McCheyne and Battling Unbelief in the Darkness

Robert Murray McCheyne’s sermon from John 11:1-46 entitled, “Bethany: The sickness, death, resurrection of Lazarus,” has rich gospel truths which confronts unbelief and encourages us to carry all things to Christ.

1) Martha’s presumption. “If You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

How did she know this? What promise of the Bible could she name upon which this expectation was grounded? God had promised that his own shall never want bread nor any good thing; that he will supply all their need, that they shall never perish, that he will be with them in time of trouble; but nowhere has he promised that they shall not die. On the contrary, “Israel must die.” David prays: “Make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days.” And Job: “I would not live alway.”

2) Her limiting of Christ: “If You had been here.”

Why so? Am I a God at hand, and not afar off? “Is my hand shortened at all, and have I no power to redeem?” She forgot the centurion of Capernaum: “I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, but speak the word only” (Matthew 8:8). She forgot the nobleman’s son at Capernaum: “Sir, come down, ere my child die.” “Go your way, you son lives” (John 4:50). Her grief and anguish kept her from calmly remembering the works and power of Jesus.

3) Her unbelief: “But I know that even now.” This was faith, and yet unbelief. She believed something, but not all, concerning Jesus. She believed in him as an advocate and intercessor, but not that all things were given into his hands, that he is Lord of all, head over all things to the Church. Her grief, and confusion, and darkness, hid many things from her.

4) And yet she came to Jesus. Though grieved, she was not offended; she did not keep away from him. She poured out all her grief, her darkness, and complaint, into his bosom. This is just the picture of a weak believer: much of nature and little grace, many questionings of Christ’s love and power, and yet carrying your complaints only to him. It was not to the Jews Martha told her grief, it was not to the disciples, it was to Jesus himself.

Learn that afflicting time is trying time. Affliction is like the furnace, it discovers the dross as well as the gold. Had all things gone on smoothly at Bethany, Martha and Mary had never known their sin and weakness; but now the furnace brought out the dross.

Learn to guard against unbelief. Guard against presumption, making a Bible-promise for yourself, and leaning upon a word God has never spoken. Guard against prescribing your way to Christ, and limiting him in his dealings. Guard against unbelief, believing only part of God’s testimony. “O foolish, and slow of heart to believe all that God has spoken.” Remember, whatever your darkness may be, to carry your complaint to Jesus himself.

 

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and God's Saving Grace

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the medical doctor turned preacher, commented on this passage in his exposition through Romans:

"The Apostle's argument is that there is nothing whatsoever in us to recommend us, nothing at all. Why did Christ come into the world? Was it in answer to some plea that came from mankind? Not at all! Was it in response to some good in man? Was it because of some divine spark still remaining, and some manifestations of that? Not at all! There was nothing in mankind to recommend it to God, nothing in human nature, nothing in any one of us to recommend us in any way to God and to His love. Indeed the truth about us was, and is, that there was everything in us that was wrong and vile and hateful, everything calculated to antagonize God towards us - enemies, hateful, vile, ungodly, sinners as we were. We must realize that our salvation is entirely gratuitous, and arises only and altogether from the love of God in His infinite grace. That is the Apostle's argument. He expresses it again most movingly in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 2:4-10, 'But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins...' He talks about 'the exceeding riches of his grace' and His kindness towards us. There is nothing but sin in us; all good is from God. 'By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' It is all of grace, 'lest any man should boast'. It has nothing to do with our works, nothing indeed to do with us in any way at all."

Romans, Exposition of Chapter 5:1-21. (Zondervan Publishing House, 1971), Page 124

Be Reconciled

The Bible teaches us that human beings are alienated from God and hostile toward Him. The gospel is in Jesus Christ who is God making His dwelling place with man, reconciling sinners to God through the blood of His cross. We could not reconcile ourselves to God, but in Jesus Christ free grace receives reconciliation.

Genesis 1:27 – “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Genesis 3:9-10 - “The Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Exodus 25:8 – “They are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.”

Exodus 29:45-46 - “I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”

Exodus 37:27 – “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

II Chronicles 6:17-18 - “Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David. But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!”

Isaiah 7:14 – “The Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

John 1:1-3, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Colossians 1:19-20 – “In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

Revelation 21:3 – “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

Come, Let us Adore Him

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” –Psalm 34:1

Francis of Assisi penned this introductory line of a hymn, “All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing!” The invitation not only for people, but the moon, stars, sun, plants, animals; ALL creatures praise God! This Psalm is a resolution to bless the Lord and praise Him always. The God who created all things for His glory created my mouth to speak and sing His praise.

The feet carrying the gospel of peace boldly sends shockwaves in a world gripped in darkness by cosmic powers (Ephesians 6:12, 16, 19). Humanity uses the mouth for speaking their mind, an overflow of what is in the heart (Luke 6:45). We as followers of Christ may use our mouths to rebuke and correct, or even defend the faith. Do these words overflow from an adoration of Jesus Christ?

Often we point to our Lord’s command to love one another, yet this love of neighbor is second to the greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). When you are in conversation about anything, are your words gracious and seasoned from a deep adoration of Jesus? Do I correct a brother or sister in Christ’s wrong, or perhaps watch the news and see a sinner with scorn, without blessing and praising the Lord at all times?

Do you marvel when you think of Jesus? Jesus is not to be reduced to merely a subject to be studied and contended for. Study of Jesus without adoration for Jesus sets a stage for our pride to act in the theater of the world set for an audience to applause us rather than Christ.

We adore what brings us pleasure. Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Always rejoicing, always blessing and praising Jesus for He is our joy and pleasure. Paul commands, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). We think about the excellencies of Jesus, we are warmed by thinking about Him and we adore Him. The qualities of Jesus are to be studied, but studied because these qualities are praiseworthy, for He is our joy and pleasure.

There is brilliance and warmth to the depths of your soul thinking about His rule as King, His power to rescue, and the wonders of His love! To shout God’s praise adds exclamation points to the sentences we speak. “I love the Lord Jesus Christ” is not simply a statement, it is an exaltation from a heart who adores Jesus above all else.

Our adoration of Jesus not only measures our health, adoration is our health. We adore Jesus in worship. Adoring Jesus who grants inner peace which surpasses understanding that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus from being anxious (Philippians 4:6-9). Adoration of Jesus speaks to the health of our relationships. Adoration of Jesus stirs our mouths to rejoice always, letting our gentleness be known to all (Philippians 4:4-5).

We are to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is our “always” blessing and praise of our Lord. What is the beauty of Christ we are to adore? His wounds.

Spurgeon preached, “The wounds of Christ are his glories, they are his jewels and his precious things. To the eye of the believer Christ is never so glorious, never so passing fair, as when we can say of him, ‘My beloved is white and ruddy,’ white with innocence, and ruddy with his own blood.” (The Wounds of Jesus, 30 January, 1859).

This praiseworthy thought stirs adoration in the depths of our hearts.

Heavenly Father, we come as children before You. Needy, dependent, yet cared for and loved by our Father. We ask that our thought of You, our study in Your Word, might stir intense adoration for Jesus our Lord. Each stripe He endured, each sin He bored, and each thorn in His brow is beauty to rejoice. Our God has made peace with us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins forgiven, our lives everlasting, our joy full, and our pleasures from Your right hand forevermore. With gratitude in our hearts we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Supplies Every Need

“My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:19

Paul was in prison, and the Philippian church had concern and sent Epaphroditus with gifts for Paul (vs 18). Paul recalled how this church was the only church supporting him in Macedonia (vs 15) and met his needs when he was in Thessalonica (vs 16). Such care, sharing in Paul’s trouble, was a “sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (vs 18).

All this having told the Philippian church how God taught Paul how to be satisfied when brought low or abounding, in times of plenty or hungry, abundance and in need (vs 11-12). It is here Paul reminds this church that God will take care of their future needs. This promise is in the context where Paul said before, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (vs 6).

Anxiety in my heart is washed away by the mighty tides of content in the supply of God, making known my need as a request. God knows what I need. He knows what others in my church family needs. Jesus commands the church to love one another, an action of caring for each other in our needs. It is a gracious thing to share in someone else’s trouble, just like the Philippians shared in Paul’s trouble.

A local church is blessed in her care for the needs of missionaries, sharing in their trouble. Such blessing also comes in her care for her shepherds (ITimothy 5:17-18). Furthermore, such care for one another in the church is that added blessing since such actions and care pleases God (Hebrews 13:16).

Look at Paul’s benediction again. Imprisoned, Paul could not pay back the gifts he received. He assured them God Himself, who is pleased with their sacrifice, will supply their needs according to the inexhaustible riches in glory that is ours as believers in Christ Jesus.

The Lord may not supply every want, but He will supply every need. The sharing in need and in trouble, carrying one another’s burdens, reveals God is rich in glory. He is the Supplier when I receive gifts and when I give gifts. Such sacrifices are like the thanksgiving sacrifices made to God in Psalm 50, when the Lord says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” God is glorified in caring for us in our time of trouble, with such care through one another’s love.

Whatever your gifting to serve in the church, sharing in their trouble, caring out of concern for those in need, use your gifting to please the Lord who supplies all your needs according to the richness of His glory. So, fear not about your future. Be anxious about nothing. You are more valuable to God than sparrows (Matthew 10:31). Such richness of treasure is an inheritance stored up for you in heaven, a future grace to be enjoyed, guarded by God’s power to give to you on that day (I Peter 1:4-5).

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your abundant supply, knowing our needs and how to best meet those needs. We rejoice even in trials that such a great supply is ours to enjoy in eternity. Bless us that we may bless one another. Meet our needs that we may care for one another. Be glorified in our sacrifices, using our gifts and caring for one another. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Self-Denial is Better than Self-Hatred

“Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains [the man with an unclean spirit] was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.” –Mark 5:5

My heart is troubled by the rise of self-hatred in our modern day. The agony of those without Christ are taught from a young age that who God knitted together in their mother’s womb is to be hated, mutilated to look different or become a different gender, find a different identity because who you are is not worthy to be loved. The world pressures people of all ages to keep changing identities, keep taking dangerous pills or surgeries until you find an identity the world will love.

In Mark 5, our Lord encounters a man possessed by a Legion of demons. The evil which raged with control of this man’s personality led to the agony of crying out with screams night and day as well as self-mutilation with stones. Evil hates the image-bearer of God.

The world would teach this man to love himself more. First, this is out of unbelief of the supernatural, but also in our postmodern age that “good” and “evil” are subjective. But this is not God’s plan to restore such a man. Jesus cast out the demons, something this man could not do for himself. This man needed reconciliation to God. Only Jesus can do that.

Adam’s fall distorted the image of God we bear. Distorted by sin, we are left attempting to fix Adam’s fall in us through earthly ways. The Bible calls us sinners, blind to the glory of God, dead in our trespasses against His holiness, separated from God. Jesus came to save sinners, calling us to turn from our wicked ways toward God. Jesus reconciles sinners to God by willingly laying down His life on the cross, taking God’s wrathful punishment which we deserved, though He is without sin. Jesus rose from the dead, proving He has authority and power over our final enemy, death.

In the Bible, God describes Himself as merciful, loving with long-suffering, kind, powerful, and holy. With sinful distortion, the sinner finds these qualities contradictory because God could only be merciful and loving if He allowed us to pursue our passions which lead to destruction. Yet, God warns us and commands us not to follow the wide path of destruction and exhorts us to turn from our ways to Christ. We need restoring, which is why Jesus came as the new Adam. If you are reading this article with skepticism, I ask you to read the short passage of Romans 5:12-21.

The answer to your self-hatred is not in pursuits of selfish passions, but to self-denial to Christ. Jesus said it this way: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). Delighting in the reign of King Jesus is like finding treasure! A man would sell everything, deny everything of himself, with…joy.

If you do not have a joy in self-denial, it is because you are blind to the hidden treasure of Christ. I plead with you, dear reader, to behold the beauty of Christ Jesus. He came to seek and to save the lost. You are lost.

The world would have you pursue your sexual appetites with identities contrary to how God created you. This is the path to true happiness, they say. But understand that others are simply pursuing their own appetites selfishly. This creates a selfish world which uses others for pleasure rather than selflessly loving one another.

When you go the wide path of destruction this Satan-ruled world demands of you, it is not you that they love. It is the new identity to their liking that they applause. Like this Legion possessed man, many in this world are crying in agony night and day because of this great evil.

Turn from your ways toward Jesus. Do not listen to the world’s voice that tell you to change your identity or mutilate your body until they love what they see, or until you love what you see. You don’t need new identities, you need a Redeemer of who you really are. A Savior of sinners. A Man of Sorrows of God’s own choosing to bear your sins and griefs, tortured at the hands of Roman guards, crucified to atone for your sin to be reconciled to God. A treasure hidden. In joy, reader, turn to Jesus.

God was intentional in creating you, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I can only imagine the agony of this Legion possessed man who cried out night and day and cut himself with stones. I grieve over your agony, reader. Look to Christ who loves with boundless length and width and height and depth (Ephesians 3:18). You must be born again to have the strength to comprehend this treasure, delivered from this present evil kingdom of darkness to Christ’s kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). You must be set free. Good news: Jesus sets the sinners free by knowing this truth (John 8:32).

If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ and this gospel, please contact me at shepherdwithhooves@gmail.com. I would be delighted to tell you more!

Heavenly Father, my prayer and plea from my heart is that Your gospel would open the eyes of the blind to see the beauty of Christ Jesus my Savior and Redeemer. Rescue the lost by Your might like You rescued this Legion possessed man. You are mighty to save with great compassion for sinners, as Your servant Paul says, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief” (I Timothy 1:15). Be glorified in Your saving grace for sinners through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

You Are Not Enough

The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” –II Corinthians 12:9

Our culture is obsessed with self-worth and self-love as the cure for misery produced by life’s troubles. Increasingly I have seen t-shirts and social media posts with the words “you are enough” or “you are worthy.” In a world grasping for any help from life’s troubles apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope proclaimed is self. There is no hope outside of you, they say. You are your own and only hope.

Paul had a thorn in his side. Whatever that thorn was, he pleaded with the Lord for its removal. The Lord did not say, “Paul, you are enough. You are worthy.” If the flood of my own misery and doubt finds its watershed in my own heart, then my heart cannot also be its own savior. Paul’s inner weakness would not have been helped to search deeper within for strength; rather, in weakness look to the Lord for grace.

The “you are enough” and “you are worthy” teaching pushes you to self-improve, as if depression and misery and fear will be helped by looking more to yourself for strength. You will never be enough. If you lived a thousand years, you will never finally achieve worth enough to be enough. Your weakness is a failure of strength; therefore, strength is not found deeper within yourself. Only more weakness.

Years may go by, and as trials and troubles continue to mount eventually you find you lack of strength to deceive yourself that “you are enough,” leading to the dread of despair. A hopeless venture like walking through a wet peat bog. Sure, you may travel a ways, but not forever.

If I really am enough, as our culture says, then why do I have to lie to myself and boast in a strength I know that I do not have to convince myself I am enough? Instead of having to produce new ways to convince myself I am enough, a self-deceit that only leads into hopeless exhaustion of works-based salvation, Scripture leads me to trust in a greater, eternal strength in God.

False teachers came into the church in Corinth undermining Paul’s authority and gospel by saying, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account” (II Corinthians 10:10). They boasted about their eloquent speech, strong appearances, and impressive personalities. Instead of boasting in strength, Paul boasts that in his weakness his life demonstrates the power of Christ resting upon him.

Paul says this weakness is something to “boast all the more gladly.” The joy is not in my weakness, but that in my weakness the power of Christ may rest upon me. “You are enough” and “you are worthy” are expressions of pride. Christ taught us, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). This means my satisfaction is not myself or that I am enough, but my weakness is my strength in Christ. Whatever weakness which drives away self-reliance and self-exaltation is a weakness to boast all the more gladly in, for in my weakness Christ’s power rests upon me. I am not enough, but the Lord’s grace is enough.

Heavenly Father, what a precious mercy our weakness is, receiving a true view of ourselves not being enough, that You would demonstrate Your power in our weaknesses and that Your grace truly is sufficient for us. Grant to us grace to remember our needs that our weaknesses would draw us more dependent upon You. You who are trustworthy, mighty, and good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.