There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8
A New Commandment
“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
This is certainly no new commandment in the sense that it is only at this time given, for we find it in the law of Moses (Lev. 19:18); and John said that we have it from the beginning (2 John. 1: 5). Why, then, is it called a new commandment?
It is called new in that it is ALWAYS NEW in the excellency of it – THE ROYAL LAW OF THE KING! It is called new because it is set forth in a new argument and example – the love of our Lord Jesus for us. “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!”
Christ loves all His own, whether male or female, rich or poor, old or young, weak or strong, greater or lesser, and not in the word only but in deed and truth. Let us who are sons of God learn to love as our Master, forgiving and forbearing one another, preferring one another, and love freely and continuously, notwithstanding weaknesses and imperfections. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin article 1991)
THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S
“Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.”
(2 Chronicles 20:15)
This is what the Lord says to all of His people about every one of our enemies: “The battle is not yours, but God’s!” What comfort that brings to the hearts of God’s people. The Captain of our salvation, the Mighty Conqueror, has taken it upon Himself to defeat every enemy of His people, and He has done it.
The battle against sin is not ours, but God’s. Sin is defeated. “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26)
The battle against the law is not ours, but God’s. The law cannot condemn God’s people. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14)
The battle against Satan is not ours, but God’s. Satan’s head has been crushed. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20)
The battle against the world is not ours, but God’s. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The battle against death is not ours, but God’s. Death cannot harm God’s elect. “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (II Tim. 1:10) “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (I Cor. 15:26)
The message of scripture to sinners is quit your fighting and rest in Christ the Mighty Conqueror (Rev. 6:2). Pastor Frank Tate
PERSEVERANCE AND PRESERVATION
“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (Jer. 32:40).
Believers do continue to abide faithful to the gospel (1 John 2:28), to the Lord Jesus and to the work of the ministry where the Lord has placed them, because they love the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 13:13) and they are kept by His power (1Peter 1:5).
There are two sides to this blessed truth, like that of faith and repentance where you find one you find the other. Along with perseverance of the saints, we see the dynamic, sovereign and vigorous power of God’s keeping grace, we call that preservation. God keeps them sealed until the day of final glory (Eph. 1:13-14). His sheep shall never perish (John 10:27-30).
CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS?
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3).
Those who are not earnestly contending “for the faith” (the gospel of God’s sovereign and free grace in Christ) are only mere pretenders in a false refuge of lies (Isa. 28:15; Matt. 7:21-23). Those who are earnestly and eagerly contending “for the faith” are those that are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom.1:16-17). Those who fervently contend “for the faith” are those who publicly preach it (Acts 5:42; Phil. 1:27), faithfully support it (Cor. 9:7), zealously identify themselves where the gospel is preached (Heb. 10:25), ardently pray for God’s blessing upon it (2Thes. 3:1), dogmatically defend it against all opposition (Gal. 5:1-5; Phil. 1:17; 1Tim. 6:3-5), and assertively insist that there is but one gospel (Gal. 1:6-10; Eph. 4:4-6). Now the question for us is this, are we genuine and legitimate contenders or wretched and desolate pretenders?
The Complete Works of Henry T. Mahan is now available in E-book (PDF) format. It is fully indexed and bookmarked, and may be downloaded FREE of charge by clicking on the 'External Link' below. GET IT WHILE YOU CAN, as the transcript will shortly be copyrighted for publishing in hardback book form, necessitating its removal from any free download site.
The link below will take you to grace-ebooks.com. This is an excellent source for many other writings of grace - all free of charge.
Dear friends, All of Pastor Henry Mahan's sermons are available in the mp3 format. These sermons were preached at 13th Street Baptist Church, Ashland, KY, from 1974 thru 2003. These 2955 messages are now available for distribution in the audio mp3 (64 bit/stereo) format on 14 DVD's. This completed set comes with cataloged messages 001 thru 1620 with an index of the sermon number, title and scripture text. All of Pastor Mahan's written books are also included in the PDF and Microsoft Word formats.
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Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
