Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (July 3rd)

A Guide All the Way

He will be our guide even unto death — Psalm 48:14

We need a guide. Sometimes we would give all that we have to be told exactly what to do, and where to turn. We are willing to do right, but we do not know which out of two roads we are to follow. Oh, for a guide!

The Lord our God condescends to serve us as guide. He knows the way, and will pilot us along it till we reach our journey's end in peace. Surely we do not desire more infallible direction. Let us place ourselves absolutely under His guidance, and we shall never miss our way. Let us make Him our God and we shall find Him our guide. If we follow His law we shall not miss the right road of life, provided we first learn to lean upon Him in every step that we take.

Our comfort is, that as He is our God for ever and ever, He will never cease to be with us as our guide. "Even unto death" will He lead us, and then we shall dwell with Him eternally, and go no more out for ever. This promise of divine guidance involves life-long security: salvation at once, guidance unto our last hour, and then endless blessedness. Should not each one seek this in youth, rejoice in it in middle life, and repose in it in old age? This day let us look up for guidance before we trust ourselves out of doors. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (July 1st)

God with Us

God shall be with you — Genesis 48:21

Good old Jacob could no more be with Joseph, for his hour had come to die: but he left his son without anxiety, for he said with confidence, "God shall be with you." When our dearest relations, or our most helpful friends, are called home by death, we must console ourselves with the reflection that the Lord is not departed from us, but lives for us, and abides with us for ever.

If God be with us, we are in ennobling company, even though we are poor and despised. If God be with us, we have all-sufficient strength, for nothing can be too hard for the Lord. If God be with us, we are always safe, for none can harm those who walk under His shadow. Oh, what a joy we have here! Not only is God with us, but He will be with us. With us as individuals; with us as families; with us as churches. Is not the very name of Jesus, Immanuel - God with us? Is not this the best of all, that God is with us? Let us be bravely diligent, and joyously hopeful. Our cause must prosper, the truth must win, for the Lord is with those who are with Him.

All this day may this sweet word be enjoyed by every believer who turns to "Faith's Check Book." No greater happiness is possible. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 30th)

Back then Forward

Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant — Ezekiel 16:60

Notwithstanding our sins, the Lord is still faithful in His love to us. He looks back. See how He remembers those early days of ours when He took us into covenant with Himself, and we gave ourselves over to Him. Happy days those! The Lord does not twit us with them, and charge us with being insincere. No, He looks rather to His covenant with us than to our covenant with Him. There was no hypocrisy in that sacred compact, on His part, at any rate. How gracious is the Lord thus to look back in love!

He looks forward also. He is resolved that the covenant shall not fail. If we do not stand to it, He does. He solemnly declares, "I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant." He has no mind to draw back from His promises. Blessed be His name, He sees the sacred seal, "the blood of the everlasting covenant," and He remembers our Surety, in whom He ratified that covenant, even His own dear Son; and therefore He rests in His covenant engagements. "He abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself."

O Lord, lay this precious word upon my heart, and help me to feed upon it all this day! #christian #bible #faith

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matt. 6:33-34)

Dune Part Two trailer 2. This is going to be the best movie of 2023. https://youtu.be/_YUzQa_1RCE

Hello! Where can I find a woman like you who also loves Jesus? Are there any others here on Nostr??

Prayers for my dog Pupper please. I believe she had a stroke this morning.

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 29th)

Invitation to Pray

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not — Jeremiah 33:3

God encourages us to pray. They tell us that prayer is a pious exercise which has no influence except upon the mind engaged in it. We know better. Our experience gives the lie a thousand times over to this infidel assertion. Here Jehovah, the living God, distinctly promises to answer the prayer of His servant. Let us call upon Him again, and admit no doubt upon the question of His hearing us and answering us. He that made the ear, shall He not hear? He that gave parents a love to their children, will He not listen to the cries of His own sons and daughters?

God will answer His pleading people in their anguish. He has wonders in store for them. What they have never seen, heard of, or dreamed of, He will do for them. He will invent new blessings if needful. He will ransack sea and land to feed them: He will send every angel out of Heaven to succor them, if their distress requires it. He will astound us with His grace, and make us feel that it was never before done in this fashion. All He asks of us is that we will call upon Him. He cannot ask less of us. Let us cheerfully render Him our prayers at once. #bible #christian #faith

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 28th)

One Look from the Lord

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? — Judges 6:14

What a look was that which the Lord gave to Gideon! He looked him out of his discouragements into a holy bravery. If our look to the Lord saves us, what will not His look at us do? Lord, look on me this day, and nerve me for its duties and conflicts.

What a word was this which Jehovah spoke to Gideon! "Go." He must not hesitate. He might have answered, "What, go in all this weakness!" But the Lord put that word out of court by saying, "Go in this thy might." The Lord had looked might into him, and he had now nothing to do but to use it, and save Israel by smiting the Midianites. It may be that the Lord has more to do by me than I ever dreamed of. If He has looked upon me He has made me strong. Let me by faith exercise the power with which He has entrusted me. He never bids me "idle away my time in this my might." Far from it. I must "go," because He strengthens me.

What a question is that which the Lord puts to me even as He put it to Gideon! "Have not I sent thee?" Yes, Lord, thou hast sent me, and I will go in thy strength. At thy command I go, and, going, I am assured that thou wilt conquer by me.

New article in the local paper by my pastor: 'Shiny Happy People' a sobering watch. https://www.qcsunonline.com/story/2023/06/28/opinion/shiny-happy-people-a-sobering-watch/24897.html

"Have you been too cheerful lately? You might take the time to watch the Neflix documentary series, “Shiny happy people.”

Seriously, you should watch it. I know some are warning against it: “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.”

Christians should never be afraid to look.

While I’m at it, let me also recommend the documentary from “Christianity Today” magazine, “The rise and fall of Mars Hill.”

If you’re a podcast listener, check out episodes 148 and 149 of the Bare Marriage podcast and hear the voice of a victim of so-called “purity culture.”

Here’s the spoiler alert in these recommendations. All is not well in the kingdom.

“Shiny happy people” exposes some of the inner workings behind the wildly popular TLC reality show, “19 kids and counting.” The show followed the lives of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children. They became Christian celebrities. Many were thankful for their consistent, bold witness for Christ. The show made them wealthy and propelled Jim Bob to office in the state Legislature. It all crashed and burned, though, after the eldest son admitted to molesting at least two of his younger sisters. Later, he was jailed for possession of child pornography.

The series interviewed members of the Duggar family, close friends, and relatives. It exposed the role played in their lives by the Bill Gothard organization. He was a popular teacher in the 1970s and 1980s who, bizarrely, became a big authority on marriage, parenting, and homeschooling though never being married; never raising children; and, never attempting to homeschool anyone. His own celebrity status was finally destroyed by multiple, credible accusations of sexual harassment.

One practice, recommended by Gothard, and apparently followed in the Duggar home, was called “blanket time.” A toddler is placed on a blanket on the floor. She is told by her parent that she is not allowed to leave the blanket or will be in trouble. Then, something she loves, like a favorite toy, is placed in her sight, but just out of her reach. Whenever she crosses the boundary of the blanket to reach for it, she is spanked for rebelling against her parent’s instruction. She might also be spanked for crying too loudly. This could continue for an hour. The expressed purpose, the stated goal, was to break the child’s will.

Gothard’s teachings have permeated evangelical, Christian culture, especially among the most conservative homeschoolers. It makes me want to re-use the word “bizarrely,” which would be poor writing. It baffles me.

As an evangelical myself, this series made me wish there was a different label I could use. To my mind, the environment of the Duggar home, and countless others infected by Gothard in the same way, was made toxic by the embrace of two anti-Christian doctrines.

The first was the insistence on a strict, hierarchical power structure to which women and children must submit instantly and mindlessly. I’ve written against coerced obedience in this space repeatedly. My next article will focus on the other element of this poisonous brew: purity culture, which makes women and girls responsible for the sexual sin of men. Until then, please pray for the Duggar children.

Gordan Runyan is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Tucumcari."

“The way of worldly ease, to row with the stream, is not the way of the Christian. As it is Satan’s business to tempt, it is yours to resist and wrestle against him.”

— Thomas Boston

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 27th)

Thank Him; Dwell Acceptably

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence — Psalm 140:13

Oh, that my heart may be upright, that I may always be able to bless the name of the Lord! He is so good to those that be good, that I would fain be among them, and feel myself full of thankfulness every day. Perhaps, for a moment, the righteous are staggered when their integrity results in severe trial; but assuredly the day shall come when they shall bless their God that they did not yield to evil suggestions and adopt a shifty policy. In the long run true men will thank the God of the right for leading them by a right way. Oh, that I may be among them!

What a promise is implied in this second clause, "The upright shall dwell in thy presence!" They shall stand accepted where others appear only to be condemned. They shall be the courtiers of the Great King, indulged with audience whensoever they desire it. They shall be favored ones upon whom Jehovah smiles, and with whom He graciously communes. Lord, I covet this high honor, this precious privilege: it will be Heaven on earth to me to enjoy it. Make me in all things upright, that I may today, and tomorrow, and every day stand in thy heavenly presence. Then will I give thanks unto thy name evermore. Amen.

"I ask every day, let your kingdom come on earth! Deliver us from the evil of a wicked generation."

That is my constant prayer too.

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 26th)

It Will Not Be Long

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh — James 5:8

The last word in the Canticle of love is, "Make haste, my beloved," and among the last words of the Apocalypse we read, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come"; to which the heavenly Bridegroom answers, "Surely I come quickly." Love longs for the glorious appearing of the Lord, and enjoys this sweet promise - "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." This stays our minds as to the future. We look out with hope through this window.

This sacred "window of agate" lets in a flood of light upon the present, and puts us into fine condition for immediate work or suffering. Are we tried? Then the nearness of our joy whispers patience. Are we growing weary because we do not see the harvest of our seed-sowing? Again this glorious truth cries to us, "Be patient." Do our multiplied temptations cause us in the least to waver? Then the assurance, that before long the Lord will be here, preaches to us from this text, "Stablish your hearts." Be firm, be stable, be constant, "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Soon will you hear the silver trumpets which announce the coming of your King. Be not in the least afraid. Hold the fort, for He is coming; yea, He may appear this very day.

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (June 25th)

A Staircase to Heaven

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man — John 1:51

Yes, to our faith this sight is plain even at this day. We do see Heaven opened. Jesus Himself has opened that kingdom to all believers. We gaze into the place of mystery and glory, for He has revealed it to us. We shall enter it soon, for He is the way.

Now we see the explanation of Jacob's ladder. Between earth and Heaven there is a holy commerce; prayer ascends, and answers come down, by the way of Jesus, the Mediator. We see this ladder when we see our Lord. In Him a stairway of light now furnishes a clear passage to the throne of the Most High. Let us use it, and send up by it the messengers of our prayers. We shall live the angelic life ourselves if we run up to Heaven in intercession, and lay hold upon the blessings of the covenant, and then descend again to scatter those gifts among the sons of men.

This choice sight which Jacob only saw in a dream we will turn into a bright reality. This very day we will be up and down the ladder each hour; climbing in communion, and coming down in labor to save our fellow-men. This is thy promise, O Lord Jesus, let us joyfully see it fulfilled.

Any Reformed here?

I got saved pretty much right into an understanding of God's sovereignty in salvation and that He saves whomever He wills. How about you?

Nostr community for Christians https://satellite.earth/n/christianostr/npub1frxdy3u244r03qw0hv7l8pl3g48gqrplj24369wg3rgmf7j65a7qjglxl7/note1gwd73g98kj45cyply78n5mz7s8ntpnrdh4fnvtkh9g9sj0verpts2tv8jz #bible #christianity #faith

Introductions

Say hi!

I'll start. My name is John Train. I'm 33 and live in Tucumcari, NM. The Lord saved me in 2017.

Exactly. Sad that the pro-life movement wants to view the murderous mothers as a second victim in an abortion, while protecting them from any legal consequences. https://republicsentinel.com/articles/opinion-one-year-after-dobbs-abortion-remains-legal-in-every-state

Well, the word for meek in the original language refers to an animal broken to harness and made useful to its master. A horse with a bridle and saddle isn't weak, but has his power under control.