Ten Shekels and a Shirt

Rev. Paris Reidhead, Pastor

A clarion call to repent and live for God's glory alone. How to avoid the trap of humanism! The following link (below) is one of the most well-known sermons of the 20th Century by Paris Reidhead, "Promoting Genuine Biblical Revival". This sermon is about 52 minutes long but well worth listening to with an open heart!

Ten Shekels and a Shirt

Reflections of the Lord's Beauty

Jesus looks at the city of Jerusalem

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)

The portion of other men fills their bodies and enriches their children, but the portion of the believer is of another sort. Men of the world have their treasure in this world, but men of the world to come look higher and further.

Our possession is twofold. We have God's presence here and His likeness hereafter here we behold the face of the Lord in righteousness, for we are justified in Christ Jesus. Oh, the joy of beholding the face of a reconciled God! The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ yields us heaven below, and it will be to us the heaven of heavens above.

But seeing does not end it: we are to be changed into that which we gaze upon. We shall sleep a while and then wake up to find ourselves as mirrors which reflect the beauties of our Lord. Faith sees God with a transforming look. The heart receives the image of Jesus into its own depths, till the character of Jesus is imprinted on the soul. This is satisfaction. To see God and to be like Him—what more can I desire? David's assured confidence is here by the Holy Ghost made to be the Lord's promise. I believe it. I expect it. Lord, vouchsafe it.

Amen.

Reflections of the Lord's Beauty, Daily Devotional Reading by Charles H. Spurgeon.

Should we preach with authority?

Charles Westley preaching to the people the gospel of Jesus!

A few years back, I listened in astonishment as postmodern leaders talked about replacing "preaching" with "having a conversation.”At first, I thought that maybe they were confusing individual conversations with how we should speak to the masses, but I was wrong. They felt that we should stop preaching from the pulpit, and start being more passive and less confrontational; never mind the fact that Jesus said, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." (Luke 4:43). But according to many post moderns, it's time to replace "preaching" with "conversing."

Don't get me wrong. I'm not questioning cosmetic issues such as styles of worship, ambiance, lighting and mood. I'm challenging the dangerous practice of removing foundational principles; Spirit-empowered preaching is foundational.

I'm also not suggesting that we never converse with people. Quite the contrary, we must be slow to speak and quick to listen, but when we are called to preach, a whole new dynamic takes place: The Spirit of God speaks, convicts, draws, heals, breaks, restores, wounds and rebuilds. In the book Spirit empowered preaching, the author said, "It must be understood that the preacher does not share, he declares." Preaching is not a little talk. It is not a fireside chat. To substitute sharing and discussion for preaching is to risk the integrity of the gospel itself."

"What does this have to do with me; I'm not a pastor, or a preacher", you might ask. It has a great deal to do with any Christian regardless of his or her calling. Let me explain. There is a very troubling trend in the evangelical church, as a whole. Foundational doctrines such as the cross, sin, judgment and repentance were declared openly in the early hours of church history, as well as in American history when revivals and awakenings spread across our landscape.

Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God

Today, these foundational truths are often neglected, watered-down, or avoided altogether in the hope of not offending, securing an audience, or being user friendly. Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is never sought; and sin is often excused. This leaves people confused and received because they believe in a cross less Christianity that bears no resemblance to Jesus' sobering call to repentance. Even though you may not be a Christian leader, we all are called to share God's Word with others, especially the difficult truths. Then we are also able to offer hope.

"To convince the world of the truth of Christianity, it must first be convinced of sin. It is only sin that renders Christ intelligible" (Andrew Murray, 1794 - 1866). In other words, the crucifixion only makes sense in light of the consequences of sin. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15), yet, we're not suppose to mention sin, repentance or judgment?

Again, the good news about Christ can only be appreciated with the bad news as the backdrop. There are times when the saints must be fed, and there are times when the sinners must be warned (Charles H. Spurgeon). Preaching, witnessing, teaching, and so on must be done with God-given authority to truly be effective. "When we fail to proclaim God's Word faithfully, we run the risk of encouraging sin and perverting the words of the living God." (cf. Jeremiah 23). *

 * Should we preach with authority? By Shane Idleman

A Covenant He Remembers

Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. (Psalm 111:5)

Those who fear God need not fear want. Through all these long years the Lord has always found meat for His own children, whether they have been in the wilderness, or by the brook Cherith, or in captivity, or in the midst of famine. Hitherto the Lord has given us day by day our daily bread, and we doubt not that He will continue to feed us till we want no more.

As to the higher and greater blessings of the covenant of grace, He will never cease to supply them as our case demands. He is mindful that He made the covenant and never acts as if He regretted it. He is mindful of it when we provoke Him to destroy us. He is mindful to love us, keep us, and comfort us, even as He engaged to do. He is mindful of every jot and tittle of His engagements, never suffering one of His words to fall to the ground.


We are sadly unmindful of our God, but He is graciously mindful of us. He cannot forget His Son who is the surety of the covenant, nor His Holy Spirit who actively carries out the covenant, nor His own honor, which is bound up with the covenant. Hence the foundation of God standeth sure, and no believer shall lose his divine inheritance, which is his by a covenant of salt. *

1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

The flagellation of Christ

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:1-11)


* A Covenant He Remembers, Daily Devotional Reading by Charles H. Spurgeon.

The Wrath of God was Poured Out, (because of you and me)!