Lessons from the Puritans

Excellent video in English and Portugues- Challenging! Joel Beeke

Save the Babies!!

Source: Answers in Genesis. org

The death of Liberty

Another great article by Peter Hitchens on the unknown Utopianism that's prevalent in our days. As Peter says: A thought police will soon be in place. But not only in Great Britain, but in the entire world.

http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2012/07/whats-that-noise-theyre-building-a-coffin-for-liberty.html

Considering that virtually all the media is left wing (as everything we read is biased), this article might sound a bit strange. However, it is worth reading.

GOD bless

Godly Sorrow

There is no godly sorrow for sin — until there is faith in Christ. While you are under the law, look at God through the law, or seek to be saved by obeying the law — you will find it impossible to repent. The law works wrath, and you will find that it will harden your hearts, stir up hard thoughts of God, and lead you to self-pity, despondency, and despair.

Affections and dangers

But just in proportion as we multiply the 'attractions of
earth'—is the danger of our making it our all—and leaving
heaven out of sight. This is now affecting the church, and
the godly and self-denying spirit of our practical Christianity
is in danger of being weakened, and of degenerating into a
soft and sickly wastefulness.

(...) professors of religion are setting their affections too
much upon things upon earth, and turning away from
the glory of the cross—to the vanities of the world!

 'A love for pleasure, diversion and recreation' J. A James

Worth noting

The Merger of Calvinism with Worldliness

Truly proclaimed, the sovereignty of God must include consecration, reverence, sincere obedience to his will, and separation from the world. You cannot have Puritan soteriology without Puritan sanctification. You should not entice people to Calvinistic (or any) preaching by using worldly bait. We hope that young people in this movement will grasp the implications of the doctrines better than their teachers, and come away from the compromises. But there is a looming disaster in promoting this new form of Calvinism.

(...)

There have been times in the past when large numbers of young people have suddenly become intellectually enthusiastic about solid Christian doctrine, only to abandon it almost as quickly.The present new, heady Calvinism, shorn of practical obedience will certainly prove to be ephemeral, leaving the cause compromised and scarred.

Faith

"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Faith is the root of all true piety. Christians need faith
for sanctification, consolation, and perseverance. Every
act of the spiritual life is an act of faith. Every step in
the spiritual walk is a step of faith. The Christian's
course is not one of merely 'doing', but of believing.

His prayers are the breathings of faith;
his works are the actings of faith;
his penitence is the tear of faith;
his joy is the smile of faith;
his hopes are the anticipations of faith;
his fears are the tremblings of faith;
his strength is the confidence of faith;
his submission is the acquiescence of faith.

Faith is the eye which looks at Christ.

Faith is the foot which moves to Christ.

Faith is the hand which receives Christ.

Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ.

It is not only by the activity of obedience, but by
the 'silent and passive power of dependence', that
the Christian is made strong and victorious.

"We live by faith, not by sight." Here is the reason
why so many professors are so worldly and so weak;
why they make such little progress, and such small
attainments. They are so much under the dominion
of sense, and are so almost wholly given up to a life
of sight, that they have neither time nor inclination
to look at the things which are unseen and eternal.

There is in them no habitual looking to Christ, no
abiding in Him, no vivid consciousness that all their
springs are in Him, and that it is from His fullness
they are to receive necessary grace.

We must prefer the invisible realities of eternity, to
the visible things of time; and amid all that is . . .
  dazzling to sight,
  gratifying to appetite,
  and dear to passion,
by faith, spend a life of . . .
  self-denial,
  mortification of sin, and
  separation from the world.

Be this then your sincere and earnest prayer, my dear
friends, "Lord, increase our faith!" Be willing to have
the world displaced from your soul, to make room for the
objects of faith! Be ever ready to come from the dazzling
glare of earthly scenes, to dwell in the calm and holy light
of faith. Study the Scriptures, and meditate much upon their
contents. Frequent and devout converse with the objects of
faith, is the best way to have it increased.

Watch diligently against the influence of those objects
which have a fatal tendency to eclipse faith's light, to
obstruct its operation, and enfeeble its life—namely,
sensual pleasure; eager pursuit of the world; and a too
intimate converse with those who mind earthly things.
 

John Angell James

A copy

There is the image of Christ!

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in
 Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

Press right home to your conscience the question,
"What do I have of the mind of Christ?" Does my
heart answer, does my disposition correspond, to
the holy, meek, humble, forgiving, benevolent,
patient, self-denying mind of Christ? Do men who
know the beauty and glory of the Original, as it is
delineated on the page of the gospel, when they
see me, say, "There is the image of Christ!"

Or do they look skeptically on, and after standing
in silence for some time, profess they can see little
or no resemblance? Oh, be satisfied with nothing
short of a copy of Christ's heart into yours!



J.A.James

Intellect

Brilliant displays of intellect are not all that is desirable or honourable in human nature. 
There is a moral perfection which elevates us closer to God - the perfection of all perfection. In dazzling pictures - in ingenious sophisms - in finely wrought [applied] descriptions - in novel and striking thoughts, there is much to interest and captivate the mind - but it is all blinding and warping [distorting] to the intellect. (...)


Brilliant exhibitions of talents are not always evidence of a love for learning, nor an innate delight in the lofty [elevated] and ennobling pleasures of intellect. More frequently they are the offsprings of vanity, and love of praise. Too many read and analise and treasure up, merely as the actor does his part and never give one thought to usefulness or [to] the necessary and serious duties of life. The perfect man or woman is one who can command the heart, and who can rightly understand the relative duties of life - who can act from motives entirely free from vanity [self-love, conceitedness, pride]- who can know when it is useful to speak and when to be silent.

Timothy Arthur

Summer 2012

Timothy and Eminent usefulness

This poor blog has almost died out in this past months... Excerpts and quotes of the little I could read throughout the year made up the "pages" of this blog :) . However we are back, I hope.
We keep walking this great (but arduous) walk of faith! We pray for love towards God, from a pure heart,from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
(...)
Yes you are right if you thought I have been reading through the letter to Timothy. The challenge is ever before me and I encourage you:

True Religion

is . . .   personal, experimental,  practical.

It is a thing of the heart—and not merely
external religious forms.

True religion is a living principle in the soul . . .
  influencing the mind,
  alluring the affections,
  guiding the will,
  directing and enlightening the conscience.

True religion is a supreme—not a subordinate matter.
It demands and obtains the throne of the soul. It guides
the whole character—and requires the whole man and all
his conduct to be in subordination.

Conference

 I think I got the conference bug :) ! Something to think about --->
Answers in Genesis Conference | August 13 in Belfast, Co. Antrim | Ken Ham

For you!

We are so prone to wander... but one thought upon the love of Jesus can light up the soul from its faithless, fearful, doubting inclinations. If you did not yet think upon the love of Jesus today, do so!

"The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20

Is Jesus precious to your heart?

Is He the object of your supreme admiration and delight?

Does He have your warmest affection?

Do you love Jesus?

" When we shall come home and enter to the possesion of our Brother's fair kingdom, and when our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and when we shall look back to pains and sufferings; then shall we see life and sorrow to be less than one step or stride from a prison to glory; and that our little inch of time - suffering is not worthy our first night's welcome home to heaven.'

 Samuel Rutherford ' The Lovelieness of Christ '

Hymn of the week- 10?

I don't really know where did I stop on the ' hymn of the week series' :) but I suppose it is never too late to re-start or rather continue from wherever we stopped. This week there seems to be always someone singing, playing or even whistling this beautiful hymn by Isaac Watts. Upon meditating in its words I realised how profound they are! Charles Wesley re­port­ed­ly said he would give up all his other hymns to have writ­ten this one. In an article by Answers in Genesis on the Crucifixion we read ' How could we ever adequately respond to this immeasurable gift? Our words could never sufficiently express the gratitude owed to our Savior. Some of our greatest songwriters have attempted to capture the beautiful truth of Christ’s sacrifice, but even their exceptional words fall short.' Perhaps Isaac Watts came the closest in his magnificent hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”  I agree!

   "Oh wondrous cross! Oh amazing love! Demands my soul, my life, my all!"

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

You may go to heaven ...

without  health,

without wealth,

without honour,

without pleasure,

without friends,

without learning,

but you can never go to heaven without Christ! 

"I am the way the truth and the life , no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)'

William Dyer

Dilligent Effort

 As well might a poor man expect to be rich in this world without industry, or for a weak man to become strong and healthy without food and exercise as for a Christian to be rich in faith and strong in te Lord without earnest endeavour and dilligent effort. it is true that all our labours amount to nothing unless the Lord bless them ( Psa 127:1) as it is also tha apart from Him we  can do nothing ( John 15:5). Nevertheless, God places no premium upon the sloth, and has promised that " the soul of the dilligent shall be made fat ' (Prov 13:4).

A.W.Pink

The Law of Spiritual Growth

"Exercise yourself unto godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7

Hello friends :)
I 've come across this outstanding  article/sermon on the verse above. Below some excerpts that I could not help taking down.
p.s: I mean "outstanding'.

Exercise yourself unto godliness'
[Godliness] demands the full bent, and strenuous exertion of the mind. There is much meaning in the original word which the apostle here uses, and which is translated "exercise." The literal rendering is--Be gymnasts in godliness. (...)And why should we not? The aims are infinitely higher, and the rewards are infinitely greater. The arena in which we are to perform this exercise, is in the Church of God. The methods by which we are to do it are as various as our various temperaments, tastes, positions, talents, and opportunities. There is no one who cannot do something; and upon all is laid the duty of living to the glory of God.

Thus true religion is a very personal and practical thing. Personal--because it is yourself that is to do the exercise; it is an individual act, and no amount of exercise done by those around you in the same family, the same church; can avail to your benefit. It is yourself who must be the moral gymnast in this spiritual conflict.


And it is practical-- because the things in which we are to exercise ourselves unto godliness are all around our daily life. We are to exercise ourselves in restraining a quick temper, in checking impatience, in bridling the tongue, in ruling the spirit, in rooting out personal defects of mind and heart; in overcoming temptations to lust, and pride, and envy, and hatred, and strife; in bearing with the infirmities of others, in being meek under reproach, in not rendering railing for railing, in not murmuring at God's dispensations, in subduing indwelling sin.

And to this repressive work, which demands constant exercise, there is to be added an aggressive work--a watching of opportunities for good, a going out into the field of active Christian exertion, a giving up of some portion of time to works of Christian love and duty, a readiness to give liberally, to teach lovingly, to sacrifice cheerfully of our comforts--that we may do good to the poor, the base, the ignorant, the outcast, the prisoner, the sick, the afflicted. And if we can do no more, we can give a cup of cold water to some one of Christ's sorrowing ones, and that "shall not lose its reward."

Fearfully and woderfully made!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
"Your hands shaped me and made me. Will You now turn and destroy me? Remember that You molded me like clay. Will You now turn me to dust again? Did You not clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in Your providence watched over my spirit." Job 10:8-12

fashioned only by a Divine architect,

vivified only by a Divine Spirit,

preserved only by a Divine protector,

governed only by a Divine lawgiver, and

designed only to illustrate the Divine glory.

The Scriptures and Christ

As the Spirit convicts us of our sins—our ingratitude to God, our murmuring against Him, our wanderings from Him—as He presses upon us the claims of God—His right to our love, obedience and adoration, and all our sad failures to render Him His due—then are we made to recognize that Christ is our only hope, and that except we flee to Him for refuge, the righteous wrath of God will most certainly fall upon us.

Supernatural

It is natural to murmur when things go wrong; it is supernatural to hold our peace (Lev10:3).

Where to live?

Live much in heaven, and earth will grow less attractive. 

Mary Winslow

Truth

“It is not opinions that man needs, it is truth. It is not theology, it is GOD. It is not ‘religion,’ it is Christ. It is the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only begotten Son"

Horatius Bonar 

The place of trouble...

Our troubles are frequently the instruments the Holy Spirit employs to carry on His sacred work in our hearts. By troubles, He . . .

    empties us of self,

    weans us from the world, and

    endears Jesus and His salvation to us!

James Smith

The love of Christ

How truth that is- what they say- that to meditate on the love of Christ is enough to get us in such raptures and suddenly make life (seem) all the easier! 

I don't believe live to be any easy, not at all, but it seems to me when we suddenly have this clear vision of  how loving Christ truly is, nothing else matters. There is  nothing impossible, unattainable or hard! When it is the Master who asks, when He tell us 'go' and ' I will be with you', how could we be reluctant? How can we resist such love?  

How dear we are to Christ!

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home!" Luke 15:4-6
He does not drive the poor weary sheep home. This is not the way of the gentle shepherd. He stoops down and lifts it up, and lays it on his own shoulder and carries it back. There is a wonderful lesson in this little touch in the picture--let us be sure that we understand just what the words say.
We all know that Christ carried our sin when He went to the cross. We know, too, that we may cast our burdens upon Him. But here we learn that Christ wants to carry, not our sins only, not our burdens and cares only--but we ourselves! The shepherd took up thesheep itself and laid it upon his shoulders!
Jesus does this "joyfully". Can this be true? Has Jesus really interest enough in any human being on this earth--to be concerned by his wandering, and joyful by his recovery? The thought overwhelms me! 
We can understand a shepherd's rejoicing when he bears home a sheep that has been lost. We can understand a mother's joy when her lost child is brought to her door. But that the heart of Jesus rejoiced when He finds us, and joyfully puts us on His shoulders--seems too amazing to be true! Yet here the word stands!
Then listen to Zephaniah: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing!" (Zephaniah 3:17)

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

Brasil...

Welcome to Brazil...

People are very welcoming ;)

The way to peace in 2012 :)

Hello blog! It is strange to be back after only posting quote and more quotes :) and never really being here. Anyways...I suppose it is better to say nothing when you really can't say anything. Anyways what I want to say is:
(...)
Troubles and trials are a daily feature of the Christian life, so my prayer towards all of you is that you may be given grace to go forward ! LOOK TO  JESUS for grace! You might better understand what I am trying to say by thinking about the quote below.

“Learn the true way of coming to peace—by looking to Jesus. Some of you think you will come to peace by looking into your own heart. Your eyes are riveted there. You watch every change there. If you could only see the glimpse of light there, oh, what joy it would give you! If you could only see a melting of your stony heart. If you could only see your heart turning to God. If you could only see a glimpse of the image of Jesus in your heart, you would be at peace. But you cannot. All is dark within.


Dear sou it is not there that you will find peace.

Had I a heart...

Had I a heart as large as earth,

And that a frozen ball,

The Sun of Righteousness breaks forth,

And soon dissolves it all!

Go forward!

"Go forward!" Exodus 14:15

Is not this a timely word for each of us as we enter into, and journey through, a new year?

We need to clearly realize that there is no such thing as remaining stationary in the spiritual life. If we do not progress--we inevitably retrograde. How that solemn fact should search our hearts!

Christian friend, your history this year will be either one of going forward--or backsliding. This new year will mark either an increased fruitfulness in your soul and life, to the glory of Him whose name you bear--or increased leanness and barrenness, to His reproach. It will witness either a growing in grace--or a decline in your spirituality. It will record either an increased love for the Word, use of the Throne of Grace, strictness of walk and closer communion with Christ--or a growing coldness and a following of Him afar off!

"Go forward!" Exodus 14:15

A.W.Pink