The Iron Pen #66

God & Country

The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His Word in his greatest darkness, "a lantern to his feet and a lamp unto his paths." He will therefore seek to establish for his country in the eyes of the world, such a character as shall make her not unworthy of the name of a Christian nation." Francis Scott Key – Better known as the author of our National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner.

Point to Ponder

"Corruption under the name of religion has gone so far as almost to extinguish the Christian Faith…I advise divines (preachers) to leave scholastic subtleties and study Scripture." Erasmus (1466-1536)

SOME FACTS WELL WORTHY OF REMEMBERING

(Taken from a small book given to 136,000 British soldiers during WWI)

• Concerning SIN
  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
    
• Concerning SUBSTITUTION
  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
    
• Concerning SIN CLEANSING
  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
    
• Concerning JUSTIFICATION
  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1
    
• Concerning ASSURANCE
  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
    
• Concerning JUDGMENT
  God now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained. Acts 17:30-31
    
• Concerning ETERNITY
  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Matthew 24:46

Thoughts on Troubles and Trials

He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

God permits the souls of men to be tested by troubles until they become pure and transparent and have heaped much profit from this process of sifting: wherefore this is the greatest species of benefit. Let us not then be distressed, neither dismayed, when trials befall us. For if the gold refiner sees how long he ought to leave the piece of gold in the furnace, and when he ought to draw it out, and does not allow it to remain in the fire until it is destroyed and burnt up: much more does God understand this, and when He sees that we have become more pure, He releases us from our trials so that we may not be overthrown and cast down by the multiplication of evils. Let us then not be repining, or faint-hearted, when some unexpected thing befalls us; but let us suffer Him who knows these things accurately, to prove our hearts by fire as long as He pleases: for He does this for a useful purpose and with a view of the profit of those who are tried. (This is a small excerpt from a sermon by John Chrysostom (345-407 A.D.) entitled The Omnipotent Christ, Healer of Souls)

What’s New In A New Believer’s Life?

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-17

A New Hope A Heavenly Home and A Glorified Body (1-4 & 6, 8)

A New Guide The Holy Spirit Indwells and Guides the Believer (5)

A New Rule We Walk By Faith Not By Sight (7)

A New Ambition We Work To Please The Lord (9)

A New Desire We Seek To Persuade Others To Accept Christ (11)

A New Motive We Are Compelled By The Love of Christ (14)

A New Purpose We Live For Christ, Not For Self (15)

A Powerful Benediction:

"The mighty God of Jacob be with you to supplant his enemies, and give you the favor of Joseph; and the wisdom, and the spirit of Stephen be with your heart and with your mouth, and teach your lips what they shall say, and how to answer to all things." William Tyndale (1533)