Repetitions In John 17 - Worship Preparation

This image shows some of the major repeated phrases in John 17 (ESV). I highlighted these repetitions about a year ago, and have been looking at them again this week in preparation for Sunday's sermon.

For Grace-goers, I commend this document to you as a means of preparing your heart for worship this weekend.

The petitions Christ makes in this chapter are utterly Amazing!

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Dealing Responsibly With Anxious Souls-#7

Letter to a soul seeking Jesus – No. VI

Go up, leaning on Jesus

Dear friend,

I have heard of you from ______, and have been praying for you, that your eye may rest on Jesus, and that your soul may lie in perfect peace under His blood shed for the sins of many. I have been thanking my Father, too, for dealing so bountifully with you. “He is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts.”

I will give you a sweet verse to meditate upon: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon the beloved?’” (Song viii. 5). Do you think this is your position? Truly this world is a wilderness if you have seen it rightly. It is a place of guilt and shame. Every natural heart is a wilderness—a dead place without a drop of living water; and then all natural hearts put together make up a wilderness world. The whole world lieth in wickedness.

There are few that know and love Jesus, and these few are panting to get more of the living water. But if you have truly fled to Jesus, you are coming up from the wilderness. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.”

Have you found Jesus truly? Do you feel willing to be all vile, all hell-deserving in yourself, and to let God’s dear Son be all your shield and righteousness? Oh, make sure of this.

Never mind what man thinks of you. I would not give a straw for the opinions of men, as to whether I was safe of no. It is not what man thinks of us that will cover us on the judgment day. Oh no! You must be in Jesus, sitting at His feet, allowing Him to wash your stains away, allowing Him to enwrap your guilty soul in divine righteousness.

If you were lying at the bottom of the sea, no eye could see your deformities; so when the infinite ocean of Immanuel’s righteousness flows over the soul, you are swallowed up as it were in Christ. Your blackness is never seen, only His fairness; and thus a God of truth can say, “Behold thou art fair; behold thou art fair, My love. Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee” (Song iv. 1-7).

Keep this always in memory; and when guilt comes on the conscience, as it will, lie down again beneath the righteousness of Jesus. Never lose sight of this. Jesus must be seen by the Father instead of our guilty soul. It is not change in our black soul that is to be our covering. You must leave self, and stand in your Elder Brother. Hide behind Him. Let the Father’s eye fall on Him, not on you. This is what Jesus wants. He died to be a shelter for such as you. This is what the Father wants; for He is not willing that any should perish. If you are seen by the Father a naked, guilty sinner, you must die; there is no help for it. But if Jesus appear for you—if you hide in His wounds like the dove in the clefts of the rock, and under His snowy raiment—then the Father Himself loveth you, and how you are coming up from the wilderness.

Every hour that strikes, that is an hour less between you and glory. Oh, do not grieve to part with the world if you are in Christ! And hour with Christ will make up for all your griefs and pains. Half and hour in the presence of our God will make us forget a lifetime of agony.

“Leaning on her beloved!” Is this the position of your soul? Do you feel empty, weak, and helpless? And do you see Him mighty to save, able to save to the uttermost? “His legs are like pillars of marble.” This is Christ’s glory, that He justifies sinners who have no righteousness, and sanctifies souls that have no inborn holiness. Let Jesus bear your whole weight.

Remember, He loves to be the only support of the soul. He is a jealous Saviour. He wants to be entirely trusted. There is nothing that you can possibly need but you will find it in Him. “All my springs are in Thee.” Do you want righteousness? He has the spirit of a weaned child to give you (Ps. cxxxi.). Do you want love? He is the fountain of love: all the promises of God in Him are yea and in Him amen.

I am sure, if you get a glimpse of Him, you would lay your head in His breast and die there. May the Spirit anoint your eyes to see Him more and more, and soften your heart to lean on Him. Those that have leaned on Him through the wilderness shall sit with Him on the throne (Rev. iii. 21).

Farewell, dear soul! The Lord feed you sweetly, as He feeds the flowers, by silent drops of dew.—Ever yours, etc.

Memoir and Remains, pp. 303-4.

Does The US Really Need More New Churches?

Decide as you watch this video. Then, pray.

(HT: Missional Thoughts)
Planting in Cooper/Young; Memphis

Dealing Responsibly With Anxious Souls-#6

Letters to a soul seeking Jesus – No. V

Be found in Christ

December 8, 1841

Dear friend,

I send you another line to tell you of Him who is altogether lovely. I have a very dear boy in my parish who is dying just now. He said to me the other day, “I have just been feeding for some days upon the words you gave me: ‘His legs are like pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold’ (Song v. 15); for (said he) I am sure He is able to carry me and all my sins.”

You may say the same, if your eyes have been opened to see the beauty, fulness, freeness, and compassion of the Lord Jesus. Nothing but the hand of God can open your eyes to see your lost condition as it truly is. Flesh and blood cannot reveal Him unto you, but my Father.

Oh, call upon Him to do this for you! A spiritual discovery of yourself and of Jesus is better than a million of worlds to you, and to me also. Remember, you cannot be fair in yourself before God. Song i. 6 must be all your prayer: “Look not upon me.” Take yourself at your best moments, you are but a vile worm in Jehovah’s sight, and so am I. Remember you may be “perfect in Christ Jesus.” Allow yourself to be found in Christ.

Oh, what will come of you if you are found in yourself? Where will you appear? You will shrink back, and call on rocks and mountains to fall upon you and cover you. But if you are hiding in Jesus—if your eye and heart are fixed upon His wounds made by our sins—if you are willing to be righteous in His righteousness, to lie down under the stream of His blood, and to be clothed upon with the snowy fleece of the Lamb of God—then God will love you with His whole soul exceedingly.

The pure, full love of God streams through the blood and obedience of Jesus to every soul that is lying under them, however vile and wretched in themselves. Have you tried—have you tasted the holy love of a holy God? Thy love is better than wine. It is better than all creature love or creature enjoyments.

Oh, do not love—oh, do not die, out of this sweet, sweet, sin-pardoning, soul-comforting love of God! Remember, Jesus is quite willing to gather you under His wings (Matt. xxiii. 37). Put that beyond all doubt. Remember, also, the present is your only time to be saved (Eccles. ix. 10). There is no believing, no repenting, no conversion in the grave—no minister will speak you there. This is the time of conversion. We must either gain you now, or lose you for ever. Oh that you would use this little time! Every moment of it is worth a world.

Your soul is very dear to me—dearer far to Jesus. Look to Him and you will be saved.—Ever yours, etc.

Memoir and Remains, pp. 301-2.

T4G '08

Early bird registration ends October 31!

MSBA - Monday, 15th @ 6p

Jordan will be part of a panel of Mid-South church planters during Monday evening's Mid-South Baptist Association annual meeting at Whitehaven Baptist Church.

He's Got The Whole... World... In His Hands

Click image for larger view. Bow heart to pray.

HT: Joshua Project

Jesus, How Precious Thou Art

After reading McCheyene's comments in the previous post about the preciousness of Christ, I was reminded of a short poem I wrote several years ago when meditating through Hebrews.

The term "precious" has lost much of its meaning in our day. It is most often used as an adjective describing an infant--and rightfully so. But "precious" also refers to that which is "valuable," or in many cases, "priceless." With that in mind, here's the poem, and the verses it is built off of:

Jesus, how precious Thou art
To man, the visible invisible GOD
To GOD exact holiness of heart;
Jesus, how precious Thou art.

---------------------
And, I hope that you can see in the following verses where I gleaned the substance for the short poem:

Hebrews 1:3--"And [Jesus] is the radiance of [God the Father's] glory and the exact representation of His nature..."

• That's where I got the, "To man, the visible invisible GOD" part.

Hebrews 1:9--(The Father says of the Son)--"Thou has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness..."

• That's where I got the, "To GOD, exact holiness of heart" part. It is worth noting that the Bible says "sin is lawlessness." And, Christ fulfilled the entire law (i.e. Christ is sinless, or perfectly Holy!)!
  

jt

Dealing Responsibly With Anxious Souls-#5

Letters to a soul seeking Jesus – No. 4

Taste that Christ is precious

Dear friend,

It is written, “Unto you who believe He is precious;” and if you are a child of God, you will know and feel what the words mean (1 Pet. ii. 7).

At one time Christ was “like a tender plant” to you, and like “a root out of dry ground.” You saw “no form nor comeliness in Him, no beauty that you should desire Him.” At that time you were at ease in Zion—you had no concern for your soul. Do you remember that time? Is it otherwise with you now? Have you been pricked in your heart by the Holy Spirit? Have you been made to see how impossible it is for man to be just with God? And has the Spirit drawn away the veil from the fair face of Immanuel, and given you an unfeigned glance at the brow that was crowned with the thorns, and the cheek from which they plucked off the hair? Has the Spirit opened a window into the heart of Jesus, and let you see the fountain-head of that love that “passeth knowledge”? Then you will be able to say, “To me He is precious.”

If you see plainly that all your standing before God is in Him, that He is your foundation-stone, your fountain, your wedding-garment, then you will feel Him to be precious. Most people refuse to come to Christ. Read Luke xiv. 16-24—“They all with one consent began to make excuse.” Why is this? Just because they do not see and feel that He is precious.

But oh, if you, my dear friend, feel that He is your only righteousness—your only fountain of living water—your High Priest—your Shepherd—your Advocate, then you will say, “He is precious!” You will never say, “Have me excused.”

I carry to you the sweet invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready.” Jesus is ready to wash and clothe you in His own blood and righteousness. The Holy Spirit is ready to come into your heart and make it new. The Father is ready to put His arms round your neck, and kiss you (Luke xv. 20). The angels are ready to give thanks for you, and to love you as a sister for eternity. Now, will you come, for all things are ready?

Are you now saying in your heart, “I cannot but believe I am the chief of sinners, and Jesus offers to be my refuge, my Mediator, my all in all; I feel He is precious”? Oh, dear friend, I trust you do. This only will make you happy in living, and blessed in dying. This is a poor dying world. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. There is no part here that death cannot take from us. But if you have Christ, you have the only imperishable portion!

Oh, may the Holy Spirit give you a firm hold of Jesus! Then we shall meet in that sweet place, where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. The Lord deal kindly and gently with you, both soul and body. Farewell, dear friend.—Ever yours, etc.

Memoir and Remains, pp. 300-1.

DG Conference Theme Song

Our friend Marc Heinrich wrote the theme song for this year's Desiring God National Conference. Enjoy!

The Most Important Thing To Be Attended To Is This...

“... according to my judgment the most important point to be attended to is this: Above all things see to it that your souls are happy in the Lord. Other things may press upon you, the Lord's work may even have urgent claims upon your attention, but I deliberately repeat, it is of supreme and paramount importance that you should seek above all things to have your souls truly happy in God Himself!

... For the first four years after my conversion I knew not its vast importance, but now after much experience I specially commend this point to the notice of my younger brethren and sisters in Christ: The secret of all true effectual service is joy in God, having experimental acquaintance and fellowship with God Himself.

But in what way shall we attain to this settled happiness of soul? ...I answer, This
happiness is to be obtained through the study of the Holy Scriptures. God has therein
revealed Himself unto us in the face of Jesus Christ.

George Muller

Dealing Responsibly With Anxious Souls-#4

Letters to a soul seeking Jesus – No. 3

Joy in believing

Dear friend,

I send you another line to tell you Jesus is the way. I would like much to hear how your weak body prospers, and whether your soul is resting under the apple-tree (Song ii. 3); but till some opportunity occurs, I must just content myself with committing your soul and body into the hand of Jesus, your faithful Creator (1 Pet. iv. 19).

We are now looking forward to another communion season, and I am busy instructing young persons for that holy and blessed ordinance. I think you said you were a good deal impressed at our last communion, and wished that you had been one of those seated at the table: perhaps you may never be permitted to sit at the table on earth; perhaps your first communion may be in glory.

There is a text in Rom. xv. 13, which expresses all my desire for you: “Now that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” You see here who is the author of conversion—“the God of hope.” He must open your heart to attend to the things that are spoken. The truths that are presented to you will not convert your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your heart and water it oft. Then see how He give you joy and peace—“in believing.”

When Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas (John xx. 28), Thomas cried out with joy, “My Lord and my God!” If Jesus reveal Himself to you in all the glory of His person, the completeness of His work, and the freeness of His love, you too will be filled with appropriating, joyful faith, and will cry, “My Lord and my God!”

It is a difficult thing to explain what it is to believe—I suppose it is impossible. But when Jesus unveils His matchless face that was buffeted and spit upon, then the soul joyfully clings to Him. This is believing, and this is joy and peace in believing. The truest, purest joy flows from a discovery of Jesus Christ. He is the hidden treasure that gives such joy to the finder (Matt. xiii. 44). Do you think you have found that treasure? Touching question! For if not, you are poor indeed.

But how much joy may you have in Christ? “The God of hope fill you with all joy.” You need not be afraid to take the full joy that Jesus gives. If you really come unto Christ, you come unto the love of Jehovah, and that is a filling love. The love of the creature does not fill the heart; but God’s love coming full upon the soul gives fulness of joy (1 John i. 4). It is holy love, sovereign love.

I have been interrupted several times in writing this little note. I will not be long in writing you again. Do decide the question of your eternity. One thing is needful! Have you closed with the great Mediator? Have you got saving knowledge of Jesus? Then only will death lose its power, and the grave become the bed of peaceful rest.

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

Lean all your care for time and eternity on Jesus; that is the softest of all pillows—the bosom of our guardian Immanuel.—I am, ever yours, etc.

Memoir and Remains, pp. 298-9.

Pray

This coming Sunday at Grace we will revel in our great God...Who hears us when we pray! This link outlines a prayer concern you can take to the LORD now.

Dealing Responsibly With Anxious Souls-#3

______________

Letters to a soul seeking Jesus – No. 2

Seek the righteousness of Christ

Dear friend,

I was glad to hear of your safe arrival, and that your health had not suffered by the voyage. I trust the Lord is dealing gently with your frail body, so that your mind may get leave freely to fix itself on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Above all, I pray that the Holy Spirit may sweetly and silently open your heart, to relish the way of salvation through the blood and obedience of Immanuel. Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things (Acts xii. 38, 39).

You would be deeply concerned to hear that your room-mate, -------, has been so suddenly and awfully called away. Should it not be a solemn warning to you? Oh that you may be even now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus! So that, if you were called away, you may meet God in peace, and hear Jesus say, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” In yourself you never will stand righteous before Jehovah. Ps. cxliii. 2 answers your case. “Enter not into judgment with me,” must be your cry.

In your nature, in your past life, in your breaking of the holy law, in your contempt and neglect of Jesus, in your indwelling sin, God can see nothing but what He must condemn. Oh that you would be of the same mind with God about your own soul! Do not be afraid to look upon its loathsomeness; for God offers to clothe you in Jesus Christ. “By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. v. 19). There is only one in all the world on whose face God can look and say, “He is altogether lovely.” Jesus is that one. Now God is willing that you and I should hide in Jesus.

I feel at this moment that He is my righteousness. “This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness,” (Jer. xxiii. 6). I feel that the love of God shines upon my guilty soul through Jesus. This is all my peace.

Your tears will not blot our sin; they do nothing but weep in hell, but that does not justify them. Your right views of the gospel will not justify you; you must be covered with a spotless righteousness. Your change of heart and of life will not justify you; it cannot cover past sins—neither is it perfect. Your amended life is still fearfully sinful in Jehovah’s sight, and yet nothing but perfect righteousness can stand before Him. Jesus offers you this perfect righteousness; in Him you may stand and hear God say, “Thou art all fair, my love.” There is no spot in me.

Do you thus look to Jesus? Do you believe the record that God has given concerning Him? Do you receive Christ with open arms? Do you cry, “My Lord and my God;” my Surety—my all?

Dear friend, do not tarry. Eternity may be near. Now is your best time, perhaps your only time, of closing with Christ. How many worlds would a lost soul in hell give for such an opportunity of cleaving to Christ as you have now! “He that has the Son hath life.” This is all my prayer and desire for your precious, precious soul.—Ever yours in the gospel, etc.

Memoir and Remains, pp. 297-8.

TCT Network & DG Conference

Along with four brothers whom I love--Nathan Kyzar, Jim Suggs, Jonathan Hopper, and Gary Hair--I am in MN today for the TCT Network meeting, and this weekend for the DG National Conference.

We will appreciate your prayers as we are already absorbing much from the LORD!
JT