For Women in Crisis: Power for the Weak

For Women in Crisis: Power for the Weak

May 28, 2014 at 12:42pm

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
 ~ Isaiah 40:28-29

There are so many dear women in crisis around me. Mental, emotional, spiritual and physical crisis. Some people believe that you can solve everything with diet and exercise. There are many who promote homeopathic remedies. Some believe that counseling, medical help and prescriptions will do the trick. Others believe that prayer and fasting will bring a cure. My own distresses, and the distresses of my friends, do have many contributing factors. I do not dismiss beneficial advice and helps out of hand. In fact, I heartily and enthusiastically encourage healthful changes in diet and exercise and believe that giving homeopathic remedies a try. Doctors and naturopaths, and prescription meds have their place and can (and DO) serve to provide genuine assistance with human maladies. However, I tend to believe that these agonies of mind, body and soul are the result of the compounded devastation of the fall and the awful reaping of multi-millenia of sin upon humanity, and individually. As women we are designed by our Creator to be particularly sensitive to danger and uncertainty. We are weaker vessels (I Peter 3:7). By our very nature we are more vulnerable to the vicissitudes of life than men. We are wired to be the responders and nurturers of those around us, but especially of our children and the children of others. We are "keepers" of the home. We are keenly aware of the evil and dangers around us, that threaten us, and our family. Things are not as they should be. We KNOW that. This world is broken. It is not our home. The whole world groans and travails, It reaches as "far as the curse is found." We have a fight or flight mechanism that goes off all the time. Why? Because there are so many real and perceived threats to our safety. Red flag sirens of "DANGER" go off as clanging alarms in our souls. Women are always trying to anticipate the next bad thing and prepare for it (or do whatever it takes to PREVENT, ALLEVIATE or AVOID it.)

Ladies, am I telling it true?

This is not just a female problem.
It's a human problem.
It's a human condition.

For the creation was subjected to futility,
not willingly,
but because of Him who subjected it,
in hope.
Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation
groans and travails in pain together until now.
And not only the creation,
but ourselves also,
which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is SEEN is not hope:
for who hopes for what he already sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see,
we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness and infirmities.
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us
with groanings too deep for words.
And He who searches hearts
knows what is the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints
according to the will of God.
~ Romans 8:20-27

For those who belong to Christ through the new birth, we can have confidence that we will learn what the Savior wants to teach us and those we love, through our joys and our afflictions. The Lord is our Good Shepherd. He will lead & guide us with His rod & staff, by His Holy Spirit's help.

And yet, many of us women, even those of us who love and depend upon Jesus Christ, can relate to Hamlet's soliloquy of angst:

"To be, or not to be - that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them.
To die - to sleep -
No more;
and by a sleep
to say we end
the heartache,
and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to. "

Reminds me of the old commercial of a harried woman in a bubble bath, saying:
"Calgon, take me away".
We long to escape the frightening reality and calamitous possibilies of life, don't we?

May we find rest, comfort, power and peace in Jesus, our Rock, and receive the necessary moment-by-moment strength, wisdom and grace we need to bear the slings and arrows of our earthy pilgrimage.

We are aliens.
We are sojourners.
We are pilgrims.
This is not our home.
But our Redeemer knows the way home.

Let us sing through our pilgrimage:

Through many dangers,
toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me
safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

~ John Newton

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"Faith" without works is a faith without Christ

"Faith" without works is a faith without Christ

May 22, 2014 at 8:22am

The surviving remnant
of the house of Judah will...
take root downward
and bear fruit upward...
The zeal of the LORD
will do this.
~ II Kings 19:31

Faith is the root,
good works are the fruits;
and we must see to it
that we have both. 
~ Matthew Henry

Faith 
by itself,
if it does not have
works,
is dead...
You believe that God is One;
you do well.
Even the demons believe —
and shudder!
But can't you see,
O vain man,
that faith without works 
is dead?...
For as the body
without the spirit
is dead,
so faith
without works
is dead also.
~ James 2:17,19-20,26

Matthew Henry notes a cautionary warning in his commentary upon these holy scriptures in James:

"Those are wrong
who put a mere notional belief
of the gospel
for the whole of evangelical religion,
as many now do."

notional

adjective

1. existing only in theory or as a suggestion or idea.

synonyms:
hypothetical, theoretical, speculative, conjectural, suppositional, 
putative, conceptual; imaginary, fanciful, unreal, illusory

Henry continues;

"No doubt,
true faith alone,
whereby men have part
in Christ's
righteousness,
atonement,
and grace,
saves their souls;
but it produces holy fruits,
and is shown to be REAL
by its effect
on their WORKS;
while mere assent to any form of doctrine,
or mere historical belief of any facts,
wholly differs from this saving faith.
A bare profession
may gain the good opinion
of pious people;
and it may procure,
in some cases,
worldly good things;
but what profit will it be,
for any to gain the whole world,
and to lose their souls?
Can this faith save him?
All things should be accounted profitable
or unprofitable
to us,
as they tend to forward
or hinder
the salvation of our souls.
This place of Scripture plainly shows
that an opinion,
or assent to the gospel,
without works,
is not faith.
There is no way to show 
we really believe in Christ, 
but by being diligent 
in good works,
from gospel motives, 
and for gospel purposes...
Faith is the root,
good works are the fruits;
and we must see to it
that we have both."  

Faith,
if it hath not works,
is dead,
being alone.
It is like a lifeless carcass,
a body
without a soul.
~ John Gill

For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision
counts for anything,
but only 
faith 
working 
through
love.
~ Galatians 5:6

Let us consider
how we may spur one another on
toward 
love and good works.
~ Hebrews 10:24


Beloved Christian,
Even if no one else but God
sees the good works that you do,
do them heartily, as unto the Lord.

Do not punish by murder the baby conceived in rape

Do not punish by murder the baby conceived in rape

May 7, 2014 at 10:43am

God's divine rule forever establishes the just and equitable principle that none should be responsible for the sins and crimes of others. Only the transgressor himself was to bear the penalty of his sin (cf. 2 Kings 14:6). 

The soul who sins shall die. 

The son shall not suffer 

for the iniquity of the father, 

nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. 

The righteousness of the righteous 

shall be upon himself, 

and the wickedness of the wicked 

shall be upon himself.

~ Ezekiel 18:20

Parents are not to be put to death 

for their children, 

nor children put to death 

for their parents; 

each will die 

for their own sin.

~ Deuteronomy 24:26

And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him; and not another; his sin shall remain on him unatoned for, unexpiated, not taken away or forgiven; the punishment of it shall be on him, and abide upon him. 

Every man shall be put to death for his own sin: which is but just and reasonable; see Ezekiel 18:4;
"Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine: the soul who sins shall die."

And children shall not be put to death, neither by the testimony, nor for the sins of fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin by proper witnesses.

The soul that continues in sin, without repentance towards God, and faith in Christ, shall die the second death; shall be separated from the presence of God, and endure His wrath to all eternity...The person that is guilty of gross sins, and continues in them, shall personally suffer; he shall endure one calamity or another, as the famine, sword, pestilence, or be carried into captivity, which is the death all along spoken of in this chapter; the Lord will exercise no patience towards him, or defer punishment to a future generation, his offspring; but shall immediately execute it upon himself. 

~ John Gill

The soul that sinneth it shall die.
As to eternity, every man was, is, and will be dealt with, as his conduct shows him to have been under the old covenant of works, or the new covenant of grace...All souls are in the hand of the great Creator: He will deal with them in justice or mercy; nor will any perish for the sins of another, who is not in some sense worthy of death for his own. We all have sinned, and our souls must be lost, if God deal with us according to His Holy Law; but we are invited to come to Christ. If a man who had shown his faith by his works, had a wicked son, whose character and conduct were the reverse of his parent's, could it be expected he should escape the Divine vengeance on account of his father's piety? Surely not. And should a wicked man have a son who walked before God as righteous, this man would not perish for his father's sins...
The question here is not about the meritorious ground of justification, but about the Lord's dealings with the righteous and the wicked.

~ Matthew Henry 

Who will stand for life and WHY?

Who will stand for life and WHY?

April 27, 2014 at 3:00pm

Please watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-a-sGXNCDs 

Being aware that our imperiled pre-born neighbors
are being dragged to slaughter
in the shadow of our homes
and our steeples,
with reliance on God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
by His strength,
and in obedience
to the holy and royal Law of love,
most especially as it is mandated in the Great Commission,
we commit ourselves to:

Love them as we love ourselves (James 2:8-9)
Protect them and defend their cause (Ps 82:1-4)
Speak up for them as they cannot speak for themselves (Prov 31:8-9)
Seek justice on their behalf (Is 1:16-17)
Exhort mothers and fathers to love their children( Tit 2:11-15)
Call sinners to repentance (Acts 3:19-21)
Warn the wicked (Ezek 33:7-11)
Expose the works of darkness (Eph 5:8-14)
Proclaim God's Holy Law and Great Salvation (Gal 3:19-24)

So.
Help.
Us.
God.

----
The following is a portion taken from an article published by Ligonier Ministries on Hebrews 10:30-31:


“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
~ Hebrews 10:31


Over the past few days we have been studying the second half of Hebrews 10 and the exhortations and warnings that are given about our need to persevere. We have seen that deliberate and unrepentant sin can lead professing church members into final apostasy and the awful judgment that it deserves (vv. 26–29).

These warnings may frighten us, and that is not altogether a bad thing. After all, the fear of the Lord is an important theme throughout Scripture (Prov. 1:7; 1 Peter 2:17). It would be a mistake, however, to let this fear paralyze us. It would be a mistake for us to think that just because we have some sinful tendencies that there is no hope for us. We must not think that Christ will not receive us back after committing gross sin if we confess it (1 John 1:8–10).

The purpose of these warnings is to prevent us from falling into final apostasy. The author is not telling us that we can snatch ourselves from the Father’s hand. Rather, he has a biblical view of providence. He knows that God accomplishes His will, including our salvation, through human agency. He knows that one of the ways God preserves us is by giving these warnings so that we will heed them and, by doing so, persevere in the faith (Heb. 10:39).

At this point in redemptive history, we still await the consummation of all things. We wait for the day when the sheep will be separated from the goats and the wheat separated from the chaff. Until that day, the visible community of faith will include true believers, as well as unbelievers who have made a false profession. Warnings are needed to help distinguish the two groups and to ensure that the elect will stand with Christ no matter the cost.

We all must heed these warnings. We must not take our salvation for granted (Heb. 2:3). We must live in a way that we grow more obedient to God and more in line with the great cost Jesus paid for our salvation. Only if we do this can we know that we truly believe.

The author of Hebrews knew this quite well. In today’s passage, he includes himself in his warnings (v. 30). He knew that only those who persevere until the end are saved. When we heed these warnings, we confirm the reality of our faith and avoid the judgment for those who ignore them and fall into the hands of the living God (v. 31).

Coram Deo


“People are prone not to think about this. 

But God’s judgment exists and will be dreadful, terrible, 
and eternally destructive of everything that is not good.” 

~ John Owen

We shall reap what we have sown

We shall reap what we have sown

November 8, 2010 at 10:17am

"...the one who sows to his own flesh
will from the flesh reap corruption,
but the one who sows to the Spirit
 will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Galatians 6:8

As we minister to thousands of sexually immoral, aborting women (many who profess to be Christians, & who presume upon the mercy of Jesus Christ for the atonement of all their sins) we often wonder if anyone has taken time to explain the eternal principles of sowing and reaping to them. The same is true of those college students we meet, who have been assured by those who call themselves 'Christians' (even campus ministers!) that "God loves you just the way you are". How far this kind of message is from the Bible's revelation of the evil harvest of sin, in this life and in the life to come. There is no fear of God in their eyes and they believe themselves to be deserving of their best life now. So many have been given assurance (either explicitly or implicitly) by churchmen, para-churchmen and laity, that they are not at fault for their 'mistakes' and that God will forgive and bless them while they remain in their sin. This is a perpetuation of the cruel, demonic lie of the murderer from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?...You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1,4-5

The following are commentaries on the Galatians passage above. I would like to ask you to keep several of the 'pet' sins of today; sexual immorality, adultery, pornography, murdering of children and homosexuality, in mind as you read these biblical teachings on God's principle of sowing and reaping.

Together for Life & Eternity,
Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries
www.sanctuaryministries.blogspot.com
Schoolmaster Ministries
www.schoolmasterministries.com

For he that soweth to his flesh - makes provision for the indulgence of fleshly appetites and passions.
He who makes use of his property to give indulgence to licentiousness, intemperance, and vanity.

Shall of the flesh - From the flesh, or as that which indulgence in fleshly appetites properly produces. Punishment, under the divine government, is commonly in the line of offences. The punishment of licentiousness and intemperance in this life is commonly loathsome and offensive disease; and when long indulged, the sensualist becomes haggard, and bloated, and corrupted, and sinks into the grave. Such, also, is often the punishment of luxurious living, of a pampered appetite, of gluttony, as well as of intemperate drinking. But if the punishment does not follow in this life, it will be sure to overtake the sensualist in the world to come. There he shall reap ruin, final and everlasting.

Corruption -
(1) By disease.
(2) in the grave - the home to which the sensualist rapidly travels.
(3) in the world of woe.

There all shall be corrupt. His virtue - even the semblance of virtue, shall all be gone. His understanding, will, fancy - his whole soul shall be debased and corrupt. No virtue will linger and live on the plains of ruin, but all shall be depravity and woe. Everything in hell is debased and corrupt; and the whole harvest of sensuality in this world and the world to come, is degradation and defilement.

But he that soweth to the Spirit - He who follows the leadings and cultivates the affections which the Holy Spirit would produce...

Shall of the Spirit -... following the leadings of the Spirit.
Reap life everlasting
~ Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For he that soweth to his flesh, is to be called a carnal sower. He is such an one that pampers his flesh, gratifies and indulges the lusts of it, who minds the things of the flesh, lives after it, and does the works of it, who spends his substance in a luxurious way upon himself and family; or whose whole bent, and study, and employment, is to increase his worldly riches, to aggrandize himself and posterity, to the neglect of his own soul, the interest of religion, the poor of the church, and ministers of the Gospel.

Shall of the flesh reap corruption; shall by such carnal methods procure for himself, in this world, nothing but what is corruptible, as silver and gold be, and such treasure as moth and rust corrupt; such substance as will not endure, but is perishing, and may be by one providence or another taken from him. All his care in sowing comes to nothing, and is of no advantage to himself, nor to his posterity (see Haggai 1:4) He shall fall into the pit of corruption, and be punished with everlasting destruction, and die the second death in the world to come.

But he that soweth to the Spirit; not his own, but the Spirit of God; or that soweth spiritual things, that minds and savours the things of the Spirit, lives in the Spirit, and walks in the Spirit; that lays out his worldly substance in promoting spiritual things, in encouraging the spiritual ministers of the Word, in supporting the interest of spiritual religion, in relieving the poor of Christ's churches, in contributing to the spread of the Gospel, and the administration of the Word and ordinances in other places, as well as where he is more immediately concerned --

Shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; in the use of such spiritual means, though not as meritorious, or as causes, he shall attain to, and enjoy eternal happiness in the other world; or of, and by the Spirit of God, by whose grace and strength he sows, and does all the good things he does, by and of him sanctifying him, and making him meet for it, and not of himself, or any works of righteousness done by him, shall he inherit eternal life; which is the pure gift of God through Jesus Christ, and bestowed as a reward of His own grace.
~ John Gill

He who thus sows will reap a crop of fleshly lusts and ills. His carnal indulgence will end in moral ruin.
But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. He shall reap spiritually, and as a final harvest the spiritual life beyond, the life everlasting.
~ People's New Testmanent

For he that now soweth to the flesh - that follows the desires of corrupt nature. Shall hereafter of the flesh - out of this very seed. Reap corruption - Death everlasting. But he that soweth to the Spirit - That follows His guidance in all his tempers and conversation. Shall of the Spirit - By the free grace and power of God, reap life everlasting. ~ John Wesley

For in ourselves we are not spiritual, but carnal. The flesh is devoted to selfishness.
Corruption-that is, destruction (Philippians 3:19). Compare as to the deliverance of believers from "corruption" (Ro 8:21). The use of the term "corruption"... implies that destruction is not an arbitrary punishment of fleshly-mindedness, but is its natural fruit. The corrupt flesh producing corruption, which is another word for destruction: corruption is the fault, and corruption the punishment (see 1Co 3:17; 2Pe 2:12). Future life only expands the seed sown here. Men cannot mock God because they can deceive themselves. They who sow tares cannot reap wheat. They alone reap life eternal who sow to the Spirit.
(Ps 126:6; Pr 11:18; 22:8; Ho 8:7; 10:12; Lu 16:25; Ro 8:11; Jas 5:7).
~ Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Many excuse themselves from the work of religion, though they may make a show, and profess it. They...deceive themselves if they think to impose upon God, who knows their hearts as well as actions; and as He cannot be deceived, so He will not be mocked.

Our present time is seed time; in the other world we shall reap as we sow now. As there are two sorts of sowing, one to the flesh, and the other to the Spirit, so will the reckoning be hereafter. Those who live a carnal, sensual life, must expect no other fruit from such a course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit, live a life of faith in Christ, and abound in Christian graces, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised. Here is an exhortation to all to do good in their places. We should take care to do good in our life-time, and make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches. ~ Matthew Henry

'As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.' ~ Job 4:8

'The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.' ~ Proverbs 11:18

"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.' ~ Hosea 8:7

'But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors' Hosea 10:13

 'Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.' Matthew 25:46


'What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!' ~ Romans 6:21


'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' ~ Romans 6:23

'The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace' ~ Romans 8:6

'So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable' ~ 1 Corinthians 15:42

'Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.' ~ James 3:18

ABORTION:

‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen. ~ Deuteronomy 27:25

'Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.' ~ Exodus 23:7

'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.' ~ Leviticus 19:16

'God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.' ~ Judges 9:24

'He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;& ... does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.' ~ Psalm 15:2 & 5

'There are men in you who slander to shed blood..In you they take bribes to shed blood... and have forgotten Me, said the Lord GOD.' ~ Ezekiel 22:9, 12

Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own 'Amen' to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things. To each of the curses the people were to say, 'Amen'. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground. It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the Law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the Law requires.

Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to Him; His righteous Law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the Words of God's Law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found. ~ Matthew Henry

The State of the ‘Almost Christian’

The State of the ‘Almost Christian’

April 20, 2014 at 8:47pm

There are many whom I must call “almost Christians,”
for I know no other expression in the Bible,
which so exactly describes their state.
They have many things about them which are right,
good and praiseworthy in the sight of God.
They are regular and moral in their lives.
They are free from glaring outward sins.
They keep up many decent and proper habits.
They appear to love the preaching of the Gospel.
They are not offended at the truth as it is in Jesus,
however plainly it may be spoken.
They have no objection to religious company,
religious books,
and religious talk.
They agree to all you say
when you speak to them about their souls.
And all this is well.

But still there is no movement
in the hearts of these people
that even a microscope can detect.
They are like those who stand still.
Weeks after weeks,
years after years
roll over their heads,
and they are just where they were.
They sit under our pulpits.
They approve of our sermons.
And yet, like Pharaoh’s lean cows,
they are nothing the better,
apparently,
for all they receive.
There is always the same regularity about them—
the same constant attendance on means of grace—
the same wishing and hoping—
the same way of talking about religion—
but there is
nothing more.
There is no going forward in their Christianity.
There is no life,
and heart,
and reality in it.
Their souls seem to be at a deadlock.
And all this is sadly wrong.

~ J.C. Ryle

Greet no one on the way

Greet no one on the way

April 18, 2014 at 11:11am

I am often reminded of Jesus' instruction to His disciples when He sent them out to fish for men (intentionally evangelize). He explicitly told them to 'greet no one on the way'(Luke 10:4).
It takes a lot of discipline and practice & discernment to obey His commandment and avoid getting off-mission at the killing place (or anyone else you share the Divine Ultimatum). The devil has a lot of creative (and sometimes BRILLIANT) ways of distracting us from bringing the Person and Work of Jesus Christ and His holy gospel message of reconciliation to the perishing.
They can come in the form of a demon-possessed crazy person or a sweet old religious lady.
The world & your flesh will join the chorus of getting side-tracked.
And, if you are not careful, you could be part of the problem with too much chit-chatting while out witnessing. Let the preaching of the Word have the pre-eminence.

Here are a few excerpts from commentaries on the Lord's command to "greet no one on the way".

Pulpit commentary says: 

"This especially refers to the length and tediousness of Eastern salutations, often very unreal, and which would consume much valuable time. Men were to see that one absorbing interest possessed them, and that to them was no time given for the ordinary useless amenities of life."

Gill notes:

"... that they might not be retarded, and hindered in their journey by tedious ceremonies, and long inquiries into the health of persons and friends, and the business they were going about, and places where; and by discourses and confabulations, drawn out to great length, as was often the case at meeting on the road: and, for the same reason, a like charge is given to Gehazi, 2 Kings 4:29, and which, as the Jewish commentators on the place observe, was, that he might not multiply words with persons he met with, and might not be stopped by the way; and that his intention might be in his work, and his mind might not turn to any other thing, either by word or deed. So our Lord's intention, by this order was, not to teach them incivility, or to be morose and uncourteous; but that they might dispatch their business with the utmost expedition, and rather forego some common civilities and ceremonies, than to neglect, or, in the least, to hinder a work of so much importance they were sent about..."

To those who say "I hate going to the killing place to witness"

To those who say "I hate going to the killing place to witness"

April 16, 2014 at 8:12am

It grieves my heart to hear Christians say: 

"I HATE going to the abortuary to minister"

"I hate fulfilling the great commission and loving my neighbor as myself.” 

Is that what you are saying?

How can we murmur against our Beloved in such a way? 

It grieves my heart to hear believers express hatred for serving Christ at the killing place. I hope at that I will point you away from having such hostile, negative feelings about ministry. I hope that I can help you grieve over your lack of joyful desire to love and serve your perishing neighbors, as well as encourage you on the path of blessed holiness. 

The Israelites murmured in the wilderness when anything hard came there way. 

(In other words, when God tested them). 

Where was their faith?! The Lord had already performed great and mighty miracles they had witnessed and yet...murmuring, murmuring, and complaining. We have seen His miracles as well, ever since He regenerated our hearts and brought us from death unto life! 

Let us not follow the path of the faithless nor think the reprobates thoughts after them, 

but let us follow Jesus on that hard and narrow way and renew our minds with the things that please the Lord. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding about abortion ministry. Let us not be wise in our own eyes but reverence the Lord. Faith will take you out of your comfort zone, saints, remember what the Lord said about the brethren in Hebrews 11? 

Those were some awe-inspiring circumstances that God by His grace through faith brought them through! 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded 

by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders 

and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance 

the race marked out for us, 

fixing our eyes on Jesus, 

the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before Him He endured the Cross, 

despising the shame, 

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

~ Hebrews 12:1-3

Anyone who belittle’s this ministry is devaluing life, the Giver of life, and the proclamation of the gospel. I heard a comment from a Christian who was discouraging another Christian from going to the killing place. He said: “Some people have a life, job, and families”, implying they do not have time to waste ministering outside of an abortuary, and that Christians who do so essentially do not have ‘a life’. This comment may have been careless and thoughtless but it was pure evil and came not from the Father. But He turned and said to Peter, “

Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. 

For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, 

but on the things of man.” 

(Matthew 16:23)

I remember a brother who complained every time he came to minister with us, saying how much he “hated” being there. Do you know what I remember about that man? It wasn’t his love for Christ. It wasn’t love for his brethren. It wasn’t love for his neighbor that I remember. What stands out in my mind about this Christian man is: hiscomplaining.  

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; 

bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 

So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” 

~ Proverbs 3:3-4

“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” 

~ Proverbs 18:9

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” 

~ Romans 12:11

You are the salt of the earth, dear saints. 

Think about that. 

No one else IS! 

If we do not want to go because we don’t "like it" or it’s "too hard", well then WHO will go?! 

Do we pray “Thy will be done” but then live to do our own thing? 

We are the light of the world and wherever we are speaking the light of His Word of truth 

the darkness flees! 

Our business in this world is to observe the precepts of Christ, 

and to copy His example; 

to do justice, 

to love mercy, 

and to beware of covetousness; 

and to be ready for every good work. 

Every time I hear a Christian complain about ministering at an abortuary I am taken back. 

Is Jesus not worthy? 

How could you not love to take the light of Jesus unto the perishing? 

The perishing are literally coming to you AND they are caught fast in their sin! 

We are like Peter and John bringing in the net FULL of fish at the abortuary! 

Are we not fishers of men? 

Are fishermen angry when they have a net full of fish? 

How could we not love to tell them the Lord’s Law and gospel 

and speak for the destitute, neglected, forsaken orphans?! 

Oh, warm your hearts ye cold hearted saints, at the FIRE of the Lord’s Word! 

Think about all of the blessings spoken of in scripture about walking in obedience, 

helping the orphaned and destitute, saving lives, turning sinners from the paths of death, 

suffering reproach and enduring persecution for righteousness sake, 

and blessings through sharpening your discernment in defending the faith. 

Read the book of Job and learn why the orphan and widow praised him and called him blessed. 

Read David and learn that even when he was on the run for his very life he defended an ENTIRE city of innocents against the malice jealousy-filled Saul! David could have complained and been self-centered but NO, the friend of God knew that life is valuable and God’s image and likeness was worth defending at all costs, even the laying down of his life 

(By the way, this city was going to turn David over to Saul out of fear and faithlessness BUT the Lord delivered him. The Lord takes care of His saints!) 

Read Joseph, how he suffered unjustly and picked up his cross to follow after Christ, 

and how God used him for the saving of many lives. 

Place yourself in the shoes of these men and then place yourself in the shoes of the destitute. 

This is how we learn and grow from scripture. 

Get wisdom & understanding, buy it and do not sell it and seek a compassionate heart built on truth.

“The Lord is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 

guarding the paths of justice 

and watching over the way of His saints.” 

~ Proverbs 2:7-8

“When the ear heard, it called me blessed, 

and when the eye saw, it approved, 

because I delivered the poor who cried for help, 

and the fatherless who had none to help him. 

The blessing of him who was about to perish 

came upon me, 

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 

my justice was like a robe and a turban. 

I was eyes to the blind 

and feet to the lame. 

I was a father to the needy, 

and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. 

I broke the fangs of the unrighteous 

and made him drop his prey from his teeth.” 

~ Job 29:11-17  

Let us be like Job and the Greater than Job, our Lord Jesus.

“Evil men do not understand justice, 

but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.” 

~ Proverbs 28:5 

This is speaking of practical obedience again. 

Do we have a good understanding of justice and putting it into practice? 

or could we care less, as long as we do what we want to do?

“Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, 

but a faithful man who can find?”  

~ Proverbs 20:6

“The righteous who walks in his integrity— 

blessed are his children after him!” 

~ Proverbs 20:7

“To do righteousness and justice 

is more acceptable to the LORD 

than sacrifice.” 

~ Proverbs 21:3

If you faint in the day of adversity, 

your strength is small. 

Rescue those 

who are being taken away to death; 

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 

If you say, 

“Behold, we did not know this,” 

does not He who weighs the heart 

perceive it? 

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, 

and will he not repay man 

according to his work? 

~ Proverbs 24:10-12

Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy. 

~ Proverbs. 31:8-9

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in your power to act.” 

~ Proverbs 3:27

Let us repent of our faithlessness, fear, and self-centeredness 

so that times of refreshing may come into our souls. 

Let us have a single vision and focus 

to do all things for the glory and worship of our Great Almighty God! 

My son, 

do not despise the LORD’s discipline 

or be weary of His reproof, 

for the LORD reproves him 

whom He loves, 

as a father the son in whom He delights. 

~ Proverbs 3:11-12

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With much love to you, His blessed saints.

~ Starla Tracy