HEART

The keeping and right managing of the heart in every condition is the great business of the Christian's life. ---- John Flavel

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).

The LORD is nigh unto those who are of a broken heart; and saves those who are of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18).

Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise (Psalm 112:7)

 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

 

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart (George Croly, 1854).

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is progressive; if it does not grow it does not live. ---- Thomas Watson

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is has been crucified unto me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14).

BIG HEAD

A big head is the mark of a small man ---- pgs.

 

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Galatians 6:3).

DOING

I would give nothing for that man's religion whose very dog and cat are not the better for it. -- Rowland Hill.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Take My Life, and Let it Be. Frances R. Havergal, 1874.

ESTATE

What was the estate of Christ's humiliation?

The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection. (Westminster Larger Catechism, Q/A 46)

Let earth and heaven combine,

Angels and men agree,

To praise in songs divine

The incarnate Deity,

Our God contracted to a span,

Incomprehensibly made man.

(Charles Wesley)

 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:6)

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739).

FREEDOM

The freedom of the Christian is freedom in the law. --- Augustus H. Strong

 

You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:13-25).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord (Timothy Dwight, 1800). 

LIBERTY

What then is the nature of true liberty? Not being free to do anything you want to do, but in coming to the place where you delight in the performance of what you ought to do. ---- Al Martin.

 

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9)

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Go, Labor On (Horatius Bonar, 1843).

GROUNDS

If there be ground for you to trust in your own righteousness, then all that Christ did to purchase salvation and all that God did to prepare the way for it, is in vain ---- Jonathan Edwards

 

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:15-21).

EARN

I believe that the root of almost every schism and heresy from which the Christian church has ever suffered has been the effort of men to earn, rather than to receive, their salvation. ---- John Ruskin

 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel ---- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed(Galatians 1:6-8).

 

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; .... Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:10, 11, 13, 14b).  

DOING

Oh, that I was all heart and soul and spirit to tell the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing multitudes! ---- Rowland Hill.

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up (Galatians 6:9).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God:

O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord --- Scottish Psalter, 1650.

The Christian and the Law

If we make God's will our law, then God's promise shall be our support and comfort, and we shall find every burden light, and every duty a joy. ---- Tryon Edwards. 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law (Galatians 3:21-22). 

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33-34). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: ALL FOR JESUS.  

The Cross of Christ

The cross is the only ladder high enough to touch Heaven's threshold. G. D. Boardman

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of the Lamb of God: BENEATH THE CROSS OF JESUS

The Hastings College Choir's musical signature since 1882. Traditional interpretation by Dr. Hayes M. Fuhr; arrangement updated by the choir's current conductor, Dr. Fritz Mountford. Prof. Ruth Moore, piano. Vocal soloists, Tom Lesiak & Adreanne Brungardt.

Use of the Law

Good morning!

...few people admit that they need a Savior. Nearly everyone thinks that even though he is not perfect, he is good enough to get into heaven. To these people the faithful evangelist must preach the law of God. He must tell them what sin is. To suppose that the law of God no longer applies to this age is to eviscerate evangelism. Sin is any want of conformity unto the law of God. ---- Gordon H. Clark

Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law (I John 3:4).

For all who rely upon works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, and do them. But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them (Galatians 3:10, 12). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: THE LAW OF GOD IS GOOD AND WISE. 

Holy Spirit

Good morning!

All outward means of grace, if separate from the Spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God.----All outward things, unless He work in them and by them, are in vain. ---- John Wesley

...it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come (John 16:7-8, 13-14). 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26). 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND UPON MY HEART.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

2012.10.12 "Self Deception"

Good morning!

Nothing is so easy to deceive as one's self. ---- Demosthenes.

If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Galatians 6:3).
A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD. en he is nothing, he deceives himself.