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Godliness
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Name: Brett
Birthday: 9/13/1978
Gender: Male
Interests: Theology, the Puritans, Presbyterian and Reformed Doctrine, Family (I have the most adorable nephews and nieces in the world), John Deere Tractors
Expertise: Going to College
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
10/27/2004
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| I plead with my reading audience to ponder and muse upon the following words of the great Scottish Puritan William Guthrie: "Here I offer you the following evidences of the doctrine, Christ highly values and esteems the souls of men. And,
1. That glorious contrivance of the gospel speaks forth what a high esteem God puts upon the souls of men. Great has been the work and business of its contrivance, in order that His will may be revealed and made known to men: all is done with a design to save the soul. And if there were no more to speak of Him than the Bible, it sufficiently shows how He values and esteems the souls of men. He can make thousands of worlds at one word; and yet He has taken much pains in contriving a way how to deal with men's souls, and about that great and glorious business of man's redemption.
2. This also says that Christ values the soul much, that He took on Him our nature, and subjected Himself very low, for such unworthy worms of the earth. None knew how to value the soul except Christ. He knows what it cost Him. In all the great revolutions of the world, He has a principal regard to the soul. There is not an up or down; a dethroning of kings, or protectors,1 or princes, but it is done with an eye to the good of the soul. He carrieth on some things in order to the good of the souls of men. If there were no more but the keeping up a standing ministry, and the vindication of that ordinance which He keeps up at a great expense, it shows that He values the souls of men at a very high rate.
3. Let us come and take notice of another evidence just at hand. Consider the particular care that He takes of particular persons; even a poor boy or girl. He will be speaking unto them, rebuking, exhorting, comforting, instructing them particularly, and singularly; waiting upon their ups and downs; to ratify the thoughts of their hearts, as if He had no other thing to do; though He has great kingdoms and sceptres besides to rule. All this shows how highly He values the souls of men." May the Lord bless these words to the saving and sanctifying of your soul.
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| Lately I have been reading about the issues of battling sin and the temptations of Satan. I will start with some words to any unbelievers that may be reading this. Do you not realize that you are a slave to the world, the devil, and sin? Sin is enthroned on the castle of your heart. The gate of the castle is left wide open. Those things which do you harm and should be your enemies rush in every day. They make your condition go from bad to worse. You love these things. You hold unto them with all your strength and you think that since you are such a good person nothing will happen to you. You cling unto your idols. You play with the devil like a child in a sand box plays with his toys not really concerned with what's going on. I plead with you!! Flee to Christ, His blood, His righteousness; the forgiveness that is certain through Him. You would not leave a wound in your body to bleed and kill you physically, why let a wound in your soul bleed and kill you spiritually? Do not think you can save yourself? Your sin is killing you everyday. It is leading you more and more captive. It is deceptive. It is a tyrant that does not love you or give up on making your heart colder to the things of God and harder than stone. Your are a slave of the devil. Yes he is real. He is much more real then you think. But he is not your friend. He does not care for you like Christ does. Christ is an almighty Savior. Go to Him. He saves to the uttermost. He is the king of Kings, the Lord of lords. The triune God crushes His enemies at His will Love Him, serve Him, trust Him. Stand not afar off with your sin, your idols, your lusts. Take them to Christ and repent and believe. Christ is the ready and willing Savior. You have nothing to contribute to your own salvation but filthy rags, but Christ has everything. Look uno Jesus. Do not have a heart of unbelief. Today is the day of salvation. Now to believers. You who say you love Him. Do you? Do you say to Him you can have all of my life except this little part, this little island in the whole world of my existence? Are you applying the cross and blood of Christ daily to kill sin? Are you growing in the knowledge and wisdom of Christ in whom all the riches of the wisdom of God are hidden? Are you equipped with the whole armor of God? Are your knees warn out because you cannot get enough of the access you have to the thrown of God? Are your eyes constantly looking to heaven? Are are overtaken with the blood-soaked riches of Christ? What does He mean to you? | | |
| John Deere tractors are the best farm tractors around. I know that is random, but is the true. Have a good day and God bless. | | |
| Many times I am distressed at my inability to find a job lately. It seems like I have done everything possible and to no avail. I am really being tested right now as far as my patience is concerned. I must confess this is a good thing. I have always been a person who needs to be reminded that the Lord works things in His timing. I know this theologically. I can give discourses on God's providence and our need to be patient. However, as the great Puritan tradition we have would say, all messages we give to our fellow believers and fellow mankind must first be brought before our own eye lids and brought home to our own conscience. So I pray, Lord, grant me patience. Lord, I pray, grant me the divine trust that you know what and when things are best for me. And even now as I wait patiently on the Lord let me see the Lord's work even in the patience He has worked in me. For the Lord is known through-out all generations for His faithfulness. Deuteronomy 32:4 In all things I must be reminded that the Lord is king over all the earth, all circumstances, all causes and all effects: in sum he is sovereign over all. The heart of the issue is the issue of the heart: see 1 Samuel 16:7 | | |
| I am reading several books right now. One book is by Douglas Wilson and is called Standing on the Promises. It is a handbook of Biblical Childrearing. I know what you are saying to me: You are not even married or daiting or courting and you do not have any children. I would answer, the more you know about how to view your future family in a biblical fashion (if it pleases God to bless you with one) the more of a blessing you can be and look forward to.  God works powerfully through family, since He is a covenant God. God promises to be the God of us and our children. I hope we impress God's faithfulness to us on our children. For the necessity of a Biblical view of the family see the following passages of scripture: Pslam 127, Psalm 128, Ephesians 5-6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6, Colossians 4, Matthew 18:6, Proverbs 28:7, Proverbs 19:15. Another book I am reading is called Martyland. It is on the Scottish Covenanters. Thousands upon thousands of them were killed for their faith in the 1600's. They spilled their blood for their faith in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were shot, hung, beheaded, quartered and many other things were done to torture them , their Pastors, elders, and children. Their blood cries out to this day. | | |
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