DON’T CHEW ON THE BRIARS

There is not a preacher—living or dead—with whom you cannot find fault, either in what he says, what he writes, or what he does. Perfection is only found in our Lord. “I find no fault in him.” His ambassadors, however, are human and not only subject to mistakes, but prone to error, except they are kept, led, and taught by the Holy Spirit.

Let us be patient with one another, pray for one another, and look for the good and not the bad. Don’t chew on the briars in a message or an article. Even a donkey knows enough to eat the hay and spit out the briars!

Pastor Henry Mahan

A vessel was wrecked one stormy night off the coast of England. All were drowned except an Irish boy. The waves swept him onto a great rock. In the morning he was rescued. “Lad, didn’t you tremble out there on the rock during the night?” “Sure I trembled, but the rock didn’t tremble once all night long!”

How safe are God’s children on the Rock, Christ Jesus!

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UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

Many famous generals of the past refused to accept anything but unconditional surrender from the defeated enemy. Unconditional surrender means the enemy surrenders completely. There are no terms the conqueror must agree to in order for the conquered to surrender. The conqueror can do whatever he pleases with the conquered. No one will submit themselves to unconditional surrender unless their only other choice is death.

My friends, gospel preachers declare the terms of surrender from Christ, the Captain of our Salvation. His terms of surrender are UNCONDITIONAL. Christ is the Mighty Conqueror. Now you submit completely to Him. Don’t say, “I will surrender if you do this.” Submit without any condition to the righteousness of Christ and quit trying to produce your own. (Romans 10:3) Submit yourself to salvation by grace alone. Prostrate yourself before Him and submit to the absolute authority of God to do with you and yours as He will. Your only other choice is eternal death.

Here is another reason to surrender unconditionally to Christ: Oh how gracious and kind our Sovereign is! His terms of surrender are kind and easy. His terms do not require harsh work and threats but sweet rest in the promise of His grace. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Pastor

REPENTANCE

This matter of repentance is more than mourning over our sins, though mourning is included. The essence of repentance is to change one’s mind about God, Christ and ourselves. Someone said, ‘God is not who we think he is, Jesus Christ is more than we think he is, and we are less than we think we are.’ Our thoughts of God, Christ and ourselves must be in tune with the word of God. Until this happens, we have not repented. A sinner is to be submerged in repentance before being submerged in water.

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Mark 1:4)