Posted on September 9th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
“Evening wolves.”
Habakkuk 1:8
While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is now thy God?” How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid Thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O Thou who hast laid down Thy life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf.
False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep’s skin. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church.
What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray to-night.
Posted on September 7th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
“Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?”
Job 38:16
Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators. Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot pass. Universal knowledge is for God alone. If this be so in the things which are seen and temporal, I may rest assured that it is even more so in matters spiritual and eternal. Why, then, have I been torturing my brain with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate, and human responsibility? These deep and dark truths I am no more able to comprehend than to find out the depth which coucheth beneath, from which old ocean draws her watery stores. Why am I so curious to know the reason of my Lord’s providences, the motive of His actions, the design of His visitations? Shall I ever be able to clasp the sun in my fist, and hold the universe in my palm? Yet these are as a drop of a bucket compared with the Lord my God. Let me not strive to understand the infinite, but spend my strength in love. What I cannot gain by intellect I can possess by affection, and let that suffice me. I cannot penetrate the heart of the sea, but I can enjoy the healthful breezes which sweep over its bosom, and I can sail over its blue waves with propitious winds. If I could enter the springs of the sea, the feat would serve no useful purpose either to myself or to others, it would not save the sinking bark, or give back the drowned mariner to his weeping wife and children; neither would my solving deep mysteries avail me a single whit, for the least love to God, and the simplest act of obedience to Him, are better than the profoundest knowledge. My Lord, I leave the infinite to Thee, and pray Thee to put far from me such a love for the tree of knowledge as might keep me from the tree of life.
Posted on August 30th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
A common misconception about prayer is that it is like a fire extinguisher – for emergency use only. Well, it is great to be used during emergencies but it was not meant to be used only during dire circumstances. Prayer can be used anytime. We can talk to God wherever we are, whenever we want to, whatever topic we wish to disclose. So, just begin talking to God and puring your heart out to Him. Eventually, you’ll feel the peace of God which transcends all understanding.
Posted on June 15th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
If you were on a mission to lose weight, which would you choose? Fasting or Fastin? Fasting is like dieting but it is more associated with religious activity. It is usually partnered with prayer times. Fastin, on the other hand, is a diet pill and it accomplish the same physical result of fasting. But the two are very much different even though they mas sound alike. The former is focused on spiritual matters while the latter is focused on the physical. So if you are choosing from both, clarify first what your objectives are. Is it spiritual or purely physical?
Posted on April 8th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer, worship
We were not on sale when Jesus Christ redeemed us! In fact, Jesus paid a very high price for us. 1 Peter 1: 18-19 says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Yes! His blood was precious and He shed it for us. Let us meditate on this truth this Holy Week.
Posted on April 7th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
In the Old Testament, the Israelites regularly sacrificed a lamb or an animal without blemish or defect to receive cleansing for their sins. The shedding of the blood of the animal serves as payment for the sins.
When Jesus came, He was called “the Lamb of God” by John the Baptist. It was because He was to be the sacrificial lamb to pay for mankind’s sin. And He did. His blood was shed for our sins. He lived without sin, like a lamb without blemish or defect, and became the only acceptable sacrifice for man’s sin.
May these be in our thoughts as we reflect during this Holy Week. Take time to thank God for the sacrificial lamb.
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
George Adam Smith tells us that he was once climbing the Weisshorn above the Zermatt Valley in Switzerland with two guides on a stormy day. They had made the ascent on the sheltered side. Reaching the top, and exhilarated by the thought of the view before him, Smith sprang to the top of a peak – and was almost blown away by the gale. The guide caught hold of him and pulled him down saying, “On your knees, sir! You are safe here only on your knees.”
