Dr Spurgeon, David and Linda Arnolds devotions.

[powderman]

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion."
Revelation 14:1

The apostle John was privileged to look within the gates of heaven, and in describing what he saw, he begins by saying, "I looked, and, lo, a Lamb!" This teaches us that the chief object of contemplation in the heavenly state is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." Nothing else attracted the apostle's attention so much as the person of that Divine Being, who hath redeemed us by his blood. He is the theme of the songs of all glorified spirits and holy angels. Christian, here is joy for thee; thou hast looked, and thou hast seen the Lamb. Through thy tears thine eyes have seen the Lamb of God taking away thy sins. Rejoice, then. In a little while, when thine eyes shall have been wiped from tears, thou wilt see the same Lamb exalted on his throne.

 It is the joy of thy heart to hold daily fellowship with Jesus; thou shalt have the same joy to a higher degree in heaven; thou shalt enjoy the constant vision of his presence; thou shalt dwell with him forever. "I looked, and, lo, a Lamb!" Why, that Lamb is heaven itself; for as good Rutherford says, "Heaven and Christ are the same thing;" to be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ. That prisoner of the Lord very sweetly writes in one of his glowing letters--"O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without thee, it would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, and have thee still, it would be a heaven to me, for thou art all the heaven I want." It is true, is it not, Christian? Does not thy soul say so?

"Not all the harps above

Can make a heavenly place,

If God his residence remove,

Or but conceal his face."

All thou needest to make thee blessed, supremely blessed, is "to be with Christ."

Evening

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house."
2 Samuel 11:2

At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.

David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures swarm, and neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briars. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door.

Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for retirement and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, a sanctuary from sin! While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops, and enter closets, and even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this night. Amen.

[powderman]

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
Hebrews 4:9

How different will be the state of the believer in heaven from what it is here! Here he is born to toil and suffer weariness, but in the land of the immortal, fatigue is never known. Anxious to serve his Master, he finds his strength unequal to his zeal: his constant cry is, "Help me to serve thee, O my God." If he be thoroughly active, he will have much labour; not too much for his will, but more than enough for his power, so that he will cry out, "I am not wearied of the labour, but I am wearied in it." Ah! Christian, the hot day of weariness lasts not forever; the sun is nearing the horizon; it shall rise again with a brighter day than thou hast ever seen upon a land where they serve God day and night, and yet rest from their labours. Here, rest is but partial, there, it is perfect. Here, the Christian is always unsettled; he feels that he has not yet attained.

There, all are at rest; they have attained the summit of the mountain; they have ascended to the bosom of their God. Higher they cannot go. Ah, toil-worn labourer, only think when thou shalt rest forever! Canst thou conceive it? It is a rest eternal; a rest that "remaineth." Here, my best joys bear "mortal" on their brow; my fair flowers fade; my dainty cups are drained to dregs; my sweetest birds fall before Death's arrows; my most pleasant days are shadowed into nights; and the flood-tides of my bliss subside into ebbs of sorrow; but there, everything is immortal; the harp abides unrusted, the crown unwithered, the eye undimmed, the voice unfaltering, the heart unwavering, and the immortal being is wholly absorbed in infinite delight. Happy day! happy! when mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and the Eternal Sabbath shall begin.

Evening

"He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."
Luke 24:27

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable journey. Their companion and teacher was the best of tutors; the interpreter one of a thousand, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord Jesus condescended to become a preacher of the gospel, and he was not ashamed to exercise his calling before an audience of two persons, neither does he now refuse to become the teacher of even one. Let us court the company of so excellent an Instructor, for till he is made unto us wisdom we shall never be wise unto salvation.

This unrivalled tutor used as his class-book the best of books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, he preferred to expound the old. He knew by his omniscience what was the most instructive way of teaching, and by turning at once to Moses and the prophets, he showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea. When Jesus himself sought to enrich others, he wrought in the quarry of Holy Scripture.

The favoured pair were led to consider the best of subjects, for Jesus spake of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning himself. Here the diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked his own doors, conducted the guests to his table, and placed his own dainties upon it. He who hid the treasure in the field himself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the sweetest of topics, and he could find none sweeter than his own person and work: with an eye to these we should always search the Word. O for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both our teacher and our lesson!

[powderman]

 
Slumber Not in the Tents of Your Father

From: David and Linda Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, January 13, 2020 8:09 am

Tackle the Thing that Can't be Done

The Word of God is alive and powerful!


SLUMBER NOT IN THE TENTS OF YOUR FATHERS

Edgar Albert Guest (1881 – 1959) was a prolific, English-born American poet who was
popular in the first half of the 20th century, and became known as the “People’s
Poet.” One of his poems was “It Couldn’t Be Done.” He wrote:
“There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of grin,
Just take off your coat and go for it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done and you’ll do it!”^1
Hebrews 11:27, “By faith (Moses) left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed
by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose
and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.”
“Slumber not in the tents of your fathers. The world is advancing. Advance with it”
(Mazzini).^2



 
 
 
 

[powderman]

 
Marred Vessels

From: David and Linda Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, January 2, 2020 8:04 am

Make Us into Gold!

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/marred-vessels?e=5a49379f89)


** A HIGH HONOR
------------------------------------------------------------


**  Marred Vessels
------------------------------------------------------------

“Paul likens the body to ‘earthen vessels’ in 2 Corinthians 4:7. This is a reference
to the pottery used in those days. Eastern pottery was very brittle. Many times the
lady of the house who went for the family water supply came home without it, because
she put her water pitcher down too suddenly.

A slight blow will break the pottery
into pieces. It was generally crude and unattractive, but very serviceable. Paul is
saying that the ‘treasure’ of the indwelling Spirit is ‘in clay pots.’ Herodotus,
the first Greek historian of about 424 B.C., called by some ‘The Father of
History’... is famous for his works on the Persian Empire…He tells how Darius
Hystaspis melted gold and poured it into earthen pots.

 Then, when Darius wanted to
use the gold he would simply melt down a vessel that had taken the shape of the
earthen pot. God prefers to take us as clay and then make us into gold!”^1
“The vessel was marred, so he made it again into another vessel” (Jeremiah 18:4).
“When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize this damage by filling the
cracks with gold. They believe that when something has suffered damage and has a
history, it becomes more beautiful.”^2

David Arnold is available for services via davidarnoldministries@gmail.com, or
727-271-2691.

View our bookstore at www.arnoldpublications.com.

============================================================

 
 
 
 

[powderman]

 
Feed the Flock of God

From: David Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, January 16, 2020 8:04 am


A Big Heart or a Big Stick?

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/feed-the-flock-of-god?e=5a49379f89)


** David Arnold Ministries
------------------------------------------------------------


**            A High Honor
------------------------------------------------------------
"To be called to follow Christ is a high honor,
higher indeed than any honor men may bestow upon each other."  A. W. Tozer

FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD

A highly successful leader and true man of God of many years ago, Arthur Parsons,
wrote, “In 1929, I became a member of a flock. I recognized the ownership of the
Good Shepherd. I became active among the flock, a lover of the sheep. I was taught
loyalty to my pastor. I respected his position. I supported him as God’s gift to me.
I served (faithfully).

 One day the Good Shepherd called me into His office, and
said, ‘I have been watching your performance. I would like to employ you in a
different capacity in the interests of My kingdom. I need your help in the care and
oversight of My flock. I want you to feed them, care for them, keep them in the
fold, bind up their wounds, instruct them, and train them. They are My sheep, not
yours.’ And He placed in my hand the Word of God.”^1

“Feed the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2). “Feed” comes from a word meaning “a
shepherd,” meaning “Shepherd the flock.” This involves more than feeding. It means
to take care of the sheep.^2
“Pastoring is not to be done with a big stick but with a big heart.”^3


 
 
 
 

[goodshot]

Thank you Charlie!  I do so appreciate your posts, we all need to be recharged, refilled, on a regular basis, He made us that way to keep us in personal relationship with him.
Bless you in Jesus name

[powderman]

Thank you Charlie!  I do so appreciate your posts, we all need to be recharged, refilled, on a regular basis, He made us that way to keep us in personal relationship with him.
Bless you in Jesus name

Thank you my friend and  brother. CHARLIE. 

[powderman]

Morning

"I sought him, but I found him not."
Song of Solomon 3:1

Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there." So look for Christ where you lost him, for he has not gone away. But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go one mile back for the lost evidence.

Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to him. But how is it you have lost him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch him every moment for fear of losing sight of him? Yet, since you have let him go, what a mercy that you are seeking him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find him!" Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest--not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek him, and he will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover him to thy joy and gladness.

Evening

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures."
Luke 24:45

He whom we viewed last evening as opening Scripture, we here perceive opening the understanding. In the first work he has many fellow-labourers, but in the second he stands alone; many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but he instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit. The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things!

They know the killing letter of revelation, but its killing spirit they cannot discern; they have a veil upon their hearts which the eyes of carnal reason cannot penetrate. Such was our case a little time ago; we who now see were once utterly blind; truth was to us as beauty in the dark, a thing unnoticed and neglected. Had it not been for the love of Jesus we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance, for without his gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the Pyramids, or an ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and by earnest prayer call in his blessed aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may receive heavenly things.

[powderman]

 
Going Forward One Step at a Time
From: David and Linda Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, January 9, 2020 8:09 am


The Sun Will Shine Again

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/going-forward-one-step-at-a-time?e=5a49379f89)


GOING FORWARD ONE STEP AT A TIME


A pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, compared the sense of overwhelming
discouragement to a Rocky Mountain whiteout – a snowstorm so fierce that a person
caught in it can see only a foot or two in any direction. He stated, “Then one must
move cautiously, using landmarks closest at hand to forge ahead. The worst thing is
to lie down, to give up. When life hits us with a blizzard of troubles, we also need
to keep going forward, even if only one step at a time, until the sun shines
again.”^1

“Stir up the gift of God that is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6, 7). The flame has not gone
out, but it was burning slowly. “Stir up” means “stir alive again into flame,” or
“rekindle.” Also, “stir up the smoldering embers into a living flame” by adding the
fuel of the Word of God and fanning it with prayer. “The tendency of fire is to go
out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart” (William Booth).^2

“If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward
and you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still” (Charles
Spurgeon).^3





 
 
 
 

[goodshot]

    “If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upwardand you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still” (CharlesSpurgeon).^3


    That is so true and powerful, thank you!

[powderman]

Morning

"Abel was a keeper of sheep."
Genesis 4:2

As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before his Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother--hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord.

 "The good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." Let us weep over him as we view him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of his altar with his own blood. Abel's blood speaketh. "The Lord said unto Cain, The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.'" The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear his blood speaking peace to all his flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of thy pasture bless thee with our whole hearts when we see thee slain for us.

Evening

"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way."
Psalm 119:37

There are divers kinds of vanity. The cap and bells of the fool, the mirth of the world, the dance, the lyre, and the cup of the dissolute, all these men know to be vanities; they wear upon their forefront their proper name and title. Far more treacherous are those equally vain things, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. A man may follow vanity as truly in the counting-house as in the theatre. If he be spending his life in amassing wealth, he passes his days in a vain show. Unless we follow Christ, and make our God the great object of life, we only differ in appearance from the most frivolous. It is clear that there is much need of the first prayer of our text. "Quicken thou me in thy way." The Psalmist confesses that he is dull, heavy, lumpy, all but dead. Perhaps, dear reader, you feel the same. We are so sluggish that the best motives cannot quicken us, apart from the Lord himself. What! will not hell quicken me? Shall I think of sinners perishing, and yet not be awakened?

Will not heaven quicken me? Can I think of the reward that awaiteth the righteous, and yet be cold? Will not death quicken me? Can I think of dying, and standing before my God, and yet be slothful in my Master's service? Will not Christ's love constrain me? Can I think of his dear wounds, can I sit at the foot of his cross, and not be stirred with fervency and zeal? It seems so! No mere consideration can quicken us to zeal, but God himself must do it, hence the cry, "Quicken thou me." The Psalmist breathes out his whole soul in vehement pleadings: his body and his soul unite in prayer. "Turn away mine eyes," says the body: "Quicken thou me," cries the soul. This is a fit prayer for every day. O Lord, hear it in my case this night.

[powderman]

 
The Only Person Who Likes Change

From: David and Linda Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, December 30, 2019 7:59 am

A New Way of Living

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/the-only-person-who-likes-change?e=5a49379f89)



THE ONLY PERSON WHO LIKES CHANGE

“It is the nature of the beast within all of us to resist change. The familiar draws
us in and constrains us like a magnet. Most folks would rather stay the same than
suffer risk of change and find relief. This is especially true when the future seems
threatening. Being creatures of habit, many would rather frown at today’s misery and
stay in the mess, than smile at tomorrow’s unsure adventure.”^

1
Christ said, “You have heard that it was said, but I say to you.” He was introducing
a new way of living, from dead religion to a relationship with God. He was despised
and resisted, yet He did not compromise because He saw the reward! “For any student
of history, change is the law of life. Any attempt to contain it guarantees an
explosion down the road; the more rigid the adherence to the status quo, the more
violent the ultimate outcome will be.”^2
“The only person who likes change is a wet baby” (Mark Twain).^3

As we bring 2019 to a close, Linda and I wish you all a wonderful new year filled
with the blessings of God. May all your needs be met, and may all your dreams come
true.


 
 
 
 

[powderman]

 
Nothing More Difficult, Doubtful, or Dangerous
From: Dave Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, January 20, 2020 8:09 am

A New Order

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/nothing-more-difficult-doubtful-or-dangerous?e=5a49379f89)

NOTHING MORE DIFFICULT, DOUBTFUL, OR DANGEROUS

Niccolo Machaivelli (1469 – 1527), the Italian historian, politician, and diplomat,
said, “There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success,
nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the
reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders
in all who profit by the new order. This lukewarmness arises partly from the fear of
their adversaries who have law in their favor, and partly from the incredulity of
mankind who do not truly believe in anything new until they have actual experience
of it.”^1


“And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and
spiritual attitude]” (Ephesians 4:23). “Renewed” means “to renovate, reform,
reversal with intensity, youthful person.”^2  It speaks of a determined effort to
change. The Voice Bible states, “Take a fresh breath and let God renew your attitude
and spirit.”
“Most people would rather live with old problems than adjust to new solutions.”^3



 
 
 
 

[goodshot]

    "Constantly renewed" is so essential, so many stop at salvation, we must not.
  This is the best mind renewal teaching from scripture that I have found so far, hope you enjoy and are edified.

[powderman]

"And so all Israel shall be saved."
Romans 11:26

Then Moses sang at the Red Sea, it was his joy to know that all Israel were safe. Not a drop of spray fell from that solid wall until the last of God's Israel had safely planted his foot on the other side the flood. That done, immediately the floods dissolved into their proper place again, but not till then. Part of that song was, "Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed." In the last time, when the elect shall sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and of the Lamb, it shall be the boast of Jesus, "Of all whom thou hast given me, I have lost none." In heaven there shall not be a vacant throne.

"For all the chosen race

Shall meet around the throne,

Shall bless the conduct of his grace,

And make his glories known."

As many as God hath chosen, as many as Christ hath redeemed, as many as the Spirit hath called, as many as believe in Jesus, shall safely cross the dividing sea. We are not all safely landed yet:

"Part of the host have crossed the flood,

And part are crossing now."

The vanguard of the army has already reached the shore. We are marching through the depths; we are at this day following hard after our Leader into the heart of the sea. Let us be of good cheer: the rear-guard shall soon be where the vanguard already is; the last of the chosen ones shall soon have crossed the sea, and then shall be heard the song of triumph, when all are secure. But oh! if one were absent--oh! if one of his chosen family should be cast away--it would make an everlasting discord in the song of the redeemed, and cut the strings of the harps of paradise, so that music could never be extorted from them.

Evening

"He was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst?"
Judges 15:18

Samson was thirsty and ready to die. The difficulty was totally different from any which the hero had met before. Merely to get thirst assuaged is nothing like so great a matter as to be delivered from a thousand Philistines! but when the thirst was upon him, Samson felt that little present difficulty more weighty than the great past difficulty out of which he had so specially been delivered. It is very usual for God's people, when they have enjoyed a great deliverance, to find a little trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel, and overcomes Omnipotence itself, and then goes "halting on his thigh!" Strange that there must be a shrinking of the sinew whenever we win the day. As if the Lord must teach us our littleness, our nothingness, in order to keep us within bounds.

Samson boasted right loudly when he said, "I have slain a thousand men." His boastful throat soon grew hoarse with thirst, and he betook himself to prayer. God has many ways of humbling his people. Dear child of God, if after great mercy you are laid very low, your case is not an unusual one. When David had mounted the throne of Israel, he said, "I am this day weak, though anointed king." You must expect to feel weakest when you are enjoying your greatest triumph. If God has wrought for you great deliverances in the past, your present difficulty is only like Samson's thirst, and the Lord will not let you faint, nor suffer the daughter of the uncircumcised to triumph over you. The road of sorrow is the road to heaven, but there are wells of refreshing water all along the route. So, tried brother, cheer your heart with Samson's words, and rest assured that God will deliver you ere long.

[powderman]

 
Can You Be Upgraded?
From: David and Linda Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, January 6, 2020 8:04 am

Step Out of the Darkness

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/can-you-be-upgraded?e=5a49379f89)



CAN YOU BE UPGRADED?

Anna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist whose
New York Times column, “Public and Private,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
in 1992. Readers Digest, in February of 2000, published a quote by her, “I walked
for miles at night along the beach, composing bad blank verse and searching
endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my
life. It never crossed my mind that the person could be me.”^1

Mohandas Ghandi said, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”^2  In 2
Corinthians 3:18, we read that believers are to be always “changing.” It means “be
transformed.” The Voice Bible terms it “metamorphosed,” meaning “to change from one
form to another in your innermost nature.” It is a change that is to be continually
going on, more and more, day by day.^3

The New Yorker once ran a cartoon showing a computer talking to its owner, and
saying, “I can be upgraded. Can you?”^4



 
 
 
 

[powderman]

https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/20000-baptized-jesus-jordan-river

Could not copy. CHARLIE.

[Bob Riebe]

https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/20000-baptized-jesus-jordan-river

20,000 participate in ceremony where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River
More than 20,000 Christians flocked to the banks of the Jordan River over the weekend to get baptized in the same location believed to be where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.
“Christ is Baptized! In the Jordan!”
That's how Christian pilgrims greet one another to commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 19 on the Orthodox calendar when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. A Christian pilgrim takes part in baptism in the Jordan river during the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany at Qasr el Yahud, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) “At this time of year, we wish to greet members of the Christian religion on the occasion of their baptism ceremonies,” Lt. Col. Eran Gross, head of the Jericho District Coordination and Liason Administration, said in a statement.
While many Orthodox believers across Eastern Europe and Russia braved frigid temperatures to dip three times in the water to signify the Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- thousands of others flocked to Israel for a ceremony that attracted faithful from across the world.
On Saturday, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, led a procession to the ceremony, which was attended by Gross and Civil Administration of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) head Brig. Gen. Ghassan Alyan. A Christian pilgrim takes part in baptism in the Jordan river during the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany at Qasr el Yahud, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Thousands participated in several ceremonies throughout Saturday and Sunday at the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site, one of the holiest sites for Christians, under the protection of the IDF and Israeli police and auspices of COGAT and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Five Christian denominations held baptismal ceremonies at the Jordan River since the beginning of January, the Jerusalem Post reports, and additional ceremonies organized by the Coptic and Armenian communities are scheduled for later this month.

[powderman]

BOB. Thank you Sir. CHARLIE. 

[powderman]

"Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?"
Ezekiel 15:2

These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord hath trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to his glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them? O believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that thou hast no ground for it. Whatever thou art, thou hast nothing to make thee proud.

The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor. Consider thine origin; look back to what thou wast. Consider what thou wouldst have been but for divine grace. Look upon thyself as thou art now. Doth not thy conscience reproach thee? Do not thy thousand wanderings stand before thee, and tell thee that thou art unworthy to be called his son? And if he hath made thee anything, art thou not taught thereby that it is grace which hath made thee to differ? Great believer, thou wouldst have been a great sinner if God had not made thee to differ. O thou who art valiant for truth, thou wouldst have been as valiant for error if grace had not laid hold upon thee. Therefore, be not proud, though thou hast a large estate--a wide domain of grace, thou hadst not once a single thing to call thine own except thy sin and misery. Oh! strange infatuation, that thou, who hast borrowed everything, shouldst think of exalting thyself; a poor dependent pensioner upon the bounty of thy Saviour, one who hath a life which dies without fresh streams of life from Jesus, and yet proud! Fie on thee, O silly heart!

Evening

"Doth Job fear God for nought?"
Job 1:9

This was the wicked question of Satan concerning that upright man of old, but there are many in the present day concerning whom it might be asked with justice, for they love God after a fashion because he prospers them; but if things went ill with them, they would give up all their boasted faith in God. If they can clearly see that since the time of their supposed conversion the world has gone prosperously with them, then they will love God in their poor carnal way; but if they endure adversity, they rebel against the Lord. Their love is the love of the table, not of the host; a love to the cupboard, not to the master of the house. As for the true Christian, he expects to have his reward in the next life, and to endure hardness in this. The promise of the old covenant was prosperity, but the promise of the new covenant is adversity. Remember Christ's words--

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit"--What? "He purgeth it, that it may bring forth fruit." If you bring forth fruit, you will have to endure affliction. "Alas!" you say, "that is a terrible prospect." But this affliction works out such precious results, that the Christian who is the subject of it must learn to rejoice in tribulations, because as his tribulations abound, so his consolations abound by Christ Jesus. Rest assured, if you are a child of God, you will be no stranger to the rod. Sooner or later every bar of gold must pass through the fire. Fear not, but rather rejoice that such fruitful times are in store for you, for in them you will be weaned from earth and made meet for heaven; you will be delivered from clinging to the present, and made to long for those eternal things which are so soon to be revealed to you. When you feel that as regards the present you do serve God for nought, you will then rejoice in the infinite reward of the future.

[powderman]

"I have exalted one chosen out of the people."
Psalm 89:19

Why was Christ chosen out of the people? Speak, my heart, for heart-thoughts are best. Was it not that he might be able to be our brother, in the blest tie of kindred blood? Oh, what relationship there is between Christ and the believer! The believer can say, "I have a Brother in heaven; I may be poor, but I have a Brother who is rich, and is a King, and will he suffer me to want while he is on his throne? Oh, no! He loves me; he is my Brother." Believer, wear this blessed thought, like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of thy memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King's own seal, stamping the petitions of thy faith with confidence of success. He is a brother born for adversity, treat him as such.

Christ was also chosen out of the people that he might know our wants and sympathize with us. "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." In all our sorrows we have his sympathy. Temptation, pain, disappointment, weakness, weariness, poverty--he knows them all, for he has felt all. Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort thee. However difficult and painful thy road, it is marked by the footsteps of thy Saviour; and even when thou reachest the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan, thou wilt find his footprints there. In all places whithersoever we go, he has been our forerunner; each burden we have to carry, has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.

"His way was much rougher and darker than mine

Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?"

Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path forever.

Evening

"We will remember thy love more than wine."
Song of Solomon 1:4

Jesus will not let his people forget his love. If all the love they have enjoyed should be forgotten, he will visit them with fresh love. "Do you forget my cross?" says he, "I will cause you to remember it; for at my table I will manifest myself anew to you. Do you forget what I did for you in the council-chamber of eternity? I will remind you of it, for you shall need a counsellor, and shall find me ready at your call." Mothers do not let their children forget them. If the boy has gone to Australia, and does not write home, his mother writes--"Has John forgotten his mother?" Then there comes back a sweet epistle, which proves that the gentle reminder was not in vain. So is it with Jesus, he says to us, "Remember me," and our response is, "We will remember thy love."

 We will remember thy love and its matchless history. It is ancient as the glory which thou hadst with the Father before the world was. We remember, O Jesus, thine eternal love when thou didst become our Surety, and espouse us as thy betrothed. We remember the love which suggested the sacrifice of thyself, the love which, until the fulness of time, mused over that sacrifice, and long for the hour whereof in the volume of the book it was written of thee, "Lo, I come." We remember thy love, O Jesus as it was manifest to us in thy holy life, from the manger of Bethlehem to the garden of Gethsemane. We track thee from the cradle to the grave--for every word and deed of thine was love--and we rejoice in thy love, which death did not exhaust; thy love which shone resplendent in thy resurrection. We remember that burning fire of love which will never let thee hold thy peace until thy chosen ones be all safely housed, until Zion be glorified, and Jerusalem settled on her everlasting foundations of light and love in heaven.

[powderman]

Morning

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler."
Psalm 91:3

God delivers his people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and out of. First, he delivers them from the snare--does not let them enter it; and secondly, if they should be caught therein, he delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others.

"He shall deliver thee from the snare." How? Trouble is often the means whereby God delivers us. God knows that our backsliding will soon end in our destruction, and he in mercy sends the rod. We say, "Lord, why is this?" not knowing that our trouble has been the means of delivering us from far greater evil. Many have been thus saved from ruin by their sorrows and their crosses; these have frightened the birds from the net. At other times, God keeps his people from the snare of the fowler by giving them great spiritual strength, so that when they are tempted to do evil they say, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

" But what a blessed thing it is that if the believer shall, in an evil hour, come into the net, yet God will bring him out of it! O backslider, be cast down, but do not despair. Wanderer though thou hast been, hear what thy Redeemer saith--"Return, O backsliding children; I will have mercy upon you." But you say you cannot return, for you are a captive. Then listen to the promise--"Surely he shall deliver thee out of the snare of the fowler." Thou shalt yet be brought out of all evil into which thou hast fallen, and though thou shalt never cease to repent of thy ways, yet he that hath loved thee will not cast thee away; he will receive thee, and give thee joy and gladness, that the bones which he has broken may rejoice. No bird of paradise shall die in the fowler's net.

Evening

"Martha was cumbered about much serving."
Luke 10:40

Her fault was not that she served: the condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. "I serve," should be the motto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor was it her fault that she had "much serving." We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head, and heart, and hands, be engaged in the Master's service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement. Her fault was that she grew "cumbered with much serving," so that she forgot him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to override communion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood of another. We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.

Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites; but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain his hands. The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things, which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to it that sitting at the Saviour's feet is not neglected, even though it be under the specious pretext of doing him service. The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for his glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world.

[powderman]

 
Fast Food Services
From: David Arnold <davidarnoldministries@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, January 23, 2020 8:09 am

"He may as well have eaten!"

View this email in your browser
(https://mailchi.mp/davidarnoldonline/fast-food-services?e=5a49379f89)
A  High Honor
"To be called to follow Christ is a high honor, higher indeed than any honor men may
bestow upon each other." A.W. Tozer

FAST-FOOD SERVICES

A minister visited a rural family for dinner, and they ate just before church. The
pastor explained that he could not eat very much and preach a good message. After
dinner, the wife encouraged her husband to go on to the service with the pastor,
since she planned to stay home and wash the dishes. After the service, her husband
returned, and she asked him how the message was. “Oh, to tell you the truth,” was
his reply, “the preacher may as well had eaten!”^1

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His
own blood” (Acts 20:28). Pastoral care involves guarding, tending to, guiding, and
feeding the flock. Pastors are to watch over the spiritual health of God’s people
and to present the rich nourishment of God’s Word.

“A lot of fast-food services are available today. Hamburgers are sold by the
billion, and Kentucky Fried Chicken is everywhere. It’s a lot easier to pick up a
snack than to cook a good meal at home. But the sheep need good food. They need
well-prepared meals served by a God-anointed under-shepherd.”^2

 
 
 
 

[Bob Riebe]

Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites; but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain his hands. The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things, which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to it that sitting at the Saviour's feet is not neglected, even though it be under the specious pretext of doing him service. The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for his glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world.

This is where Spurgeon twists things, on occasion to fit his rhetoric, which differs from the Bible.

³ But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. ⁶ I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.\ ⁷ And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” ⁸ The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. ⁹ Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.¹⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”


Joshua did, nothing better than Moses, victory depended strictly on Moses holding up the Rod of the Lord, nothing Joshua did would have changed any thing.

[powderman]

Morning

"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us."
Isaiah 63:7

And canst thou not do this? Are there no mercies which thou hast experienced? What, though thou art gloomy now, canst thou forget that blessed hour when Jesus met thee, and said, "Come unto me"? Canst thou not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped thy fetters, dashed thy chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break thy bonds and set thee free"? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of his mercy towards thee?

What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which thou art suffering now, and did he not restore thee? Wert thou never poor before, and did he not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before, and did he not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience, and pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine infant--faith--may float safely on the stream. Forget not what thy God has done for thee; turn over the book of thy remembrance, and consider the days of old. Canst thou not remember the hill Mizar? Did the Lord never meet with thee at Hermon? Hast thou never climbed the Delectable Mountains? Hast thou never been helped in time of need? Nay, I know thou hast. Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away. "Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever of old."

Evening

"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Romans 3:31

When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish, the least intimation of his will. Does he bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father. Does he command you to seek the image of Jesus? Is it not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"? Then not because the law commands, but because your Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in holiness.

Does he bid his saints love one another? Do it, not because the law says, "Love thy neighbour," but because Jesus says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments;" and this is the commandment that he has given unto you, "that ye love one another." Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk, but because Jesus teaches, "Give to him that asketh of thee." Does the Word say, "Love God with all your heart"? Look at the commandment and reply, "Ah! commandment, Christ hath fulfilled thee already--I have no need, therefore, to fulfil thee for my salvation, but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now and he has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute." May the Holy Ghost make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ's love, that your prayer may be, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight." Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the apologist of sin.

[powderman]

[quoteThis is where Spurgeon twists things, on occasion to fit his rhetoric, which differs from the Bible.
][/quote]


BOB. If you don't like Dr Spurgeon, please don't read his devotions. Changing the Bible you would know about. A lot of folks enjoy reading these devotions, please don't ruin it. There are a lot of fence sitters that are still not committed to Jesus Christ, THEY are the ones I post for. CHARLIE. 

[goodshot]

 And those that take everything to the Lord as we are instructed that He might guide us in what we are to grow in from these great devotionals, that more than anything was what happened at TOS after the truth of the Gospel was shared, knuckleheads ( meant with all due respect of course)  who thought their opinion mattered interrupted the spiritual truth discussion and posted opinion.


  Thanks again for your posts Charlie, bless you in Jesus name.

[powderman]

"Your heavenly Father."
Matthew 6:26

God's people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by creation, and they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh, what precious word is that. Here is authority: "If I be a Father, where is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered--which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God's children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster's toil, but run in the way of his commands because it is your Father's way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your Father's will, and his will should be the will of his child.

Father!--Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the King's crown is forgotten in the King's face, and his sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy--the sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it. Father!--Here is honour and love. How great is a Father's love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father's heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that word--Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when I can say, "Father."

Evening

"All they that heard it wondered at those things."
Luke 2:18

We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very difficult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship; for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God's glory, though it may not express itself in song, or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshipped as "the Wonderful." That God should consider his fallen creature, man, and instead of sweeping him away with the besom of destruction, should himself undertake to be man's Redeemer, and to pay his ransom price, is, indeed marvellous! But to each believer redemption is most marvellous as he views it in relation to himself. It is a miracle of grace indeed, that Jesus should forsake the thrones and royalties above, to suffer ignominiously below for you. Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.

It will cause within you godly watchfulness; you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this. Feeling the presence of the mighty God in the gift of his dear Son, you will put off your shoes from off your feet, because the place whereon you stand is holy ground. You will be moved at the same time to glorious hope. If Jesus has done such marvellous things on your behalf, you will feel that heaven itself is not too great for your expectation. Who can be astonished at anything, when he has once been astonished at the manger and the cross? What is there wonderful left after one has seen the Saviour? Dear reader, it may be that from the quietness and solitariness of your life, you are scarcely able to imitate the shepherds of Bethlehem, who told what they had seen and heard, but you can, at least, fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne, by wondering at what God has done.

[Bob Riebe]

BOB. If you don't like Dr Spurgeon, please don't read his devotions. Changing the Bible you would know about. A lot of folks enjoy reading these devotions, please don't ruin it. There are a lot of fence sitters that are still not committed to Jesus Christ, THEY are the ones I post for. CHARLIE. 

Wrong is still wrong.
Truth is still truth.

[Bob Riebe]

And those that take everything to the Lord as we are instructed that He might guide us in what we are to grow in from these great devotionals, that more than anything was what happened at TOS after the truth of the Gospel was shared, knuckleheads ( meant with all due respect of course)  who thought their opinion mattered interrupted the spiritual truth discussion and posted opinion.

Spurgeon posts his opinion but he is not a knuckle-head, but then you are a  legend in your mind.