Meditate On Death

William Dyer, “Christ’s Famous Titles”

Meditate often on these four last things:
Death, which is most certain.
Judgment, which is most strict.
Hell, which is most doleful.
Heaven, which is most delightful.

Meditate upon DEATH, which is most certain.
“It is appointed unto men once to die.” Hebrews 9:27

Out of the dust was man formed;
into the dust shall man be turned.

To think of death–is a death to some men!

Oh, sirs! Meditate upon death.

Meditation on death–will put sin to death!

Death to the wicked–is the end of all comfort, and the beginning of all misery!
Death to the godly–is the outlet to sin and sorrow, and the inlet to peace and happiness!

The saints’ enjoyment shall be incomparable,
when the sinners’ torments shall be intolerable!

When a believer’s soul goes out of his own bosom–it goes into Abraham’s bosom! When a saint dies–he leaves all his bad behind him, and carries his good with him! When a sinner dies–he carries his bad with him, and leaves his good behind him!

The godly man goes from evil–to all good.
The wicked man goes from good–to all evil.

When a saint leaves the world–his soul returns to happiness and rest!
When a sinner leaves this world–his body goes to worms to be consumed, and his soul goes to flames to be tormented!

The saint goes to Abraham’s bosom;
the sinner goes to Beelzebub’s bosom!

The wheat goes to the barn;
the chaff goes to the fire!

Oh, sirs! meditate upon death!

Four Objects Worthy Of Meditation

Over my next four posts I am going to be posting about some objects that are worthy of a Christian’s mediation:  Death, Judgement, Hell, and Heaven.  These come from William Dyer’s booklet “Christ’s Famous Titles“.  I have been keeping these snippets around for a while and thought you would benefit from them.  Keep your eyes peeled for the first post on meditating on death.

Nearly Impossible To Grasp

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
- John 15:9-11

I have been chewing on these verses for the past couple of days.  The shock factor is fresh every time I read them.  The same love God the Father has for his Son, is the same love with which the Son loves me.  That is nearly impossible to grasp.

The Test Of Amusements

J. R. Miller

“Lovers of pleasure–rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:4

Is the love of pleasure growing upon you, gaining the power and the ascendency over you? Is it dulling the keenness of your zest for spiritual pleasures? Is it making Bible-study, prayer, communion with Christ, meditation upon holy themes–less sweet enjoyments than before? Is it making your hunger for righteousness, for God–less intense? Is it interfering with the comfort and blessing you used to find in worship services, or in Christian work?

If so, there is only one thing to do–hasten to return to God, cut off the pleasure which is imperiling the soul, and find in Christ the joy which the world cannot give, and which ever enhances the life. We must test all our pleasures and amusements by this rule–Are they helping us to grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual beauty?

The Fear Of The Lord

This is a test run.  Side note, I totally ripped this idea off of the Resurgence.com

Joy Comes With The Morning

Psalm 30:4-5

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

Crying Stones or Whining Rocks? The Living Stone and the living stones

A phenomenal sermon on why whining/complaining is anti-gospel, and what do we employ to battle this sin.  This sermon was preached by David Prince who is Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, KY.

“In the midst of grumbling over little things you are declaring with your actions that the privileges of the gospel do not matter to you.”

Crying Stones or Whining Rocks? The Living Stone and the living stones

Lazy Ministers

Charles Spurgeon

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care . . . not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock!” 1 Peter 5:2-3

We preachers must be examples to the flock. He who cannot be safely imitated, ought not to be tolerated in a pulpit!

Did I hear of a minister who was always striving for pre-eminence? Or of another who was covetous? Or of a third whose life was not always chaste? Or of a fourth who did not rise, as a rule, until eleven o’clock in the morning?

I would hope that this last rumor was altogether false. An idle minister! What will become of him? Does he expect to go to heaven? I was about to say, “If he does go there at all–may it be soon!” A lazy minister is a creature despised by men–and abhorred by God!

I said to a farmer, “You pay your minister such a small amount! Why, the poor man cannot live on it!” His answer was, “Look here, sir! I will tell you the truth–we give him a good deal more than he earns!”

It is a sad pity when that can be said; it is an injury to all those who follow our sacred calling. We are to be examples to our flock in all things. We are to excel . . .
in all diligence,
in all gentleness,
in all humility, and
in all holiness.

Blood Soup: Why the Culture of Craving Is Wrecking Your Life, Your Church, and Our Mission—and How Jesus Can Turn It Around

Today’s chapel was preached by Russell Moore.  He taught from the book of Genesis where we find Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red stew.  Moore points out that Esau is forever marked by his sin of selling his birthright for a bowl of stew, when in that moment it all it looked like was a normal everyday event.  Esau was just appeasing his appetite.  Moore points out that the small feedings of our sinful appetites will one day wreck us and potentially mark us for the rest of our lives if we are not constantly fleeing to Christ for our satisfaction.

I say clearly.  If you only have time to watch/listen to one of these sermons that I have recently linked to, listen to this sermon!

Blood Soup: Why the Culture of Craving Is Wrecking Your Life, Your Church, and Our Mission—and How Jesus Can Turn It Around

For The Sake Of The Gospel

One of my favorite preachers to listen to (and consequently one of my favorite podcasts to listen to) is Alistair Begg.  One of his most recent podcast series is from one of his pastor’s conferences where the concentration of the teaching revolved around preaching for the sake of the gospel.  This is a sermon series definitely honed for preachers, but definitely a worthwhile listen for any and all christians.  Begg deals with the stereotype pastor he calls Chug-along Charlie.  This is the pastor that is not really doing anything to strive for the goal of all peoples knowing Jesus Christ.  This is the man who is content with being content.  This is a great challenge for teachers of the word to strive and continue in the work of the gospel.

These links are to Begg’s radio podcast.  Clicking these links should open up iTunes.
For the Sake of the Gospel 1A
For the Sake of the Gospel 1B
For the Sake of the Gospel 1C

For the Sake of the Gospel 2A
For the Sake of the Gospel 2B
For the Sake of the Gospel 2C