Lord, What Will You Have Me To Do?

Acts 9:6

"Lord, what will you have me to do?" This is Paul's question on the road where he met the sovereign Christ. It was not, what do I think is best for me? Or what will afford me the most pleasure and comfort? Or even what do other people do? But "Lord, what will YOU have me to do?" In every case enable me, by Thy grace, to do what is pleasing in Thy sight and that which will bring glory to Thy name. Where we get in trouble is putting our wills and ways be­fore His! It is not I but Christ, His gospel, His church, His kingdom, His glory, which must be con­sidered. When this is settled "I" will fall in the right place and though the way may not be easy; in the end it will be pleasant. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1982)

The Doubts and Fears of The Saints

The saints of God have doubts and fears. They sometimes feel that they have no faith at all, and because of their sinfulness, they feel they may not be one of God’s elect after all. But ask them where all their hope and trust is found and they will quickly tell you Christ is their only hope. No true believer puts any hope of eternal life in his works, goodness, or faith, but all his hope is in Jesus Christ. And that is a good hope; a sure hope. And according to God’s promises, all who put their trust in Him are saved and shall be saved. There are no doubts in the mind of God’s people as to Who does the saving. They all know “Salvation is of the Lord.” And they all know how God saves: through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. They all doubt themselves but never doubt God’s Word of Truth, the Gospel.

Pastor Paul E. Mahan

Outward Reformation is Not Regeneration:

Near Knoxville, the Tennessee River flows southward. But near Jackson, it runs north. Yet, even though it has changed directions, it is still the same old muddy water.

When a sinner turns his life around himself, gets baptized, joins the church, does good works, cuts his hair - trims his sideburns, throws away his music collection and engages in a frenzy of church activities - though he is zealous and sincere, though the preacher calls it “a work of grace”, it is the same muddy water flowing in a different direction.

Outward reformation is not regeneration. A new lifestyle is not a new nature. An outward form of holiness is not sanctification of the Spirit. To have the form without the power is to be worse off than before – for then a man thinks he has life, when he is still dead.

Pastor Clay Curtis

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN CHRIST

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).

Paul encourages all believers to stand fast in the liberty and freedom we enjoy in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal. 5:1).

Consider these brief thoughts on the believer's freedom in Christ:

1). Where Christ in the gospel is found; there is a spirit of illumination in our heart and there is freedom from darkness. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12). "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13).

2). Where Christ in the gospel is found; there is a spirit of regeneration in our heart and there is freedom from the bondage of sin. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:32, 36).

3). Where Christ in the gospel is found; there is the spirit of redemption in our heart and there is freedom from the curse and penalty of sin. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Gal. 3:13).

4). Where Christ in the gospel is found; there is a spirit of comfort in our heart and there is freedom from fear and wrath; "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine" (Isa. 43:1).

5). Where Christ in the gospel is found; there is a spirit of adoption in our heart and there is the freedom of a child to come unto his loving Father. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).