Spiritual Declension

A want of interest in the duties of secret devotion is a mark of religious declension. It is well said that prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. A devout spirit is truly the life and soul of godliness. The soul cannot but delight in communion with what it loves with warm affection. The disciple, when his graces are in exercise, does not enter into his closet and shut the door, that he may pray to his Father who is in secret, merely because it is a duty which must be done, but because it is a service which he delights to render, a pleasure which he is unwilling to forego. He goes to the mercy-seat as the thirsty hart goes to the refreshing brook. The springs of his strength are there. There he has blessed glimpses of his Savior’s face, and unnumbered proofs of his affection.

But sometimes the professing Christian comes to regard the place of secret intercourse with God with very different feelings. He loses, perhaps by a process so gradual that he is scarcely conscious of it for a time, the tenderness of heart, and the elevation and fervor of devout affection that he had been used to feel in meeting God. There is less and less of spirit and more and more of form in his religious exercises. He retires at the accustomed time rather from force of habit than because inclination draws him. He is enclined to curtail his seasons of retirement or to neglect it altogether if a plausible pretext can be found. He reproaches himself, perhaps, but hopes that the evil will cure itself at length. And so he goes on from day to day, and week to week. Prayer---if his heartless service deserves the name---affords him no pleasure and adds nothing to his strength. Where such a state of things exists it is evident that the pulses of spiritual life are ebbing fast. If the case is yours, dear reader, it ought to fill you with alarm. Satan is gaining an advantage of you and seducing you from God.

A second sign of spiritual declension is indifference to time usual means of grace. The spiritual life, not less than time natural life, requires appropriate and continual nourishment. For this want God has made ample provision in his Word. To the faithful disciple, the Scriptures are rich in interest and profit.

"0 how I love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day." To such a soul the preaching of the gospel is a joyful sound; and the place where kindred spirits mingle in social praise and worship is far more attractive than the scenes of worldly pleasure. But, alas! from time to time it happens that some who bear the Christian name and who have rejoiced in Christian hopes, insensibly lose their relish for the Scriptures. If they continue to read them daily, it is no longer with such appreciation of their power and beauty as makes them the bread of life, refreshing and invigorating the soul. Their minds are occupied no small portion of the time with thoughts of earthly things. They find it easy to excuse themselves from frequenting the place of social prayer, and even content themselves, perhaps, with an occasional half-day attendance on the more public service of the sanctuary. And when they are in the place of worship they feel listless, destitute of spiritual affection, disposed to notice others or to attend to only mere words and forms. They want, in a great measure, that preparation of the heart, without which the means of grace are powerless and lacking in pleasure or profit to the soul. Such indifference is conclusive proof that the soul has departed (or is in the process of) from God; has grieved the Holy Spirit and lost the vital power of godliness. If you, reader, are conscious of this indifference, see in it an infallible sign of backsliding. It declares you have departed from the fountain of living waters and are a wanderer from your God.

A third indication of declension in the Christian life is a devotion to the world. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Covetousness is idolatry. Christians are solemnly enjoined to set their affections on things above, and to lay up treasures in heaven. But look at yonder professed disciple. See how inordinately anxious he is about gain. He is giving all his thoughts and time to business. He enlarges his plans and extends his views. He suffers the hours of worldly business to encroach upon the time which should be spent in secret or in family worship or in the social prayer. He forgets that he has no right to do this, and that he can not, without sin, permit the claims of earth to crowd out the claims of God and his own immortal nature. Look, too, at his compliance with the tastes and maxims of worldly people. He appears to feel it is not best to be strict in his adhesion to his principles. He doubts if there is any harm in this or that or the other worldly indulgence. He does not see the need of being so strenuous about little things. He is anxious to please everybody and can not bear to thwart the wishes of time worldly-minded. If the world dislikes any of the doctrines or the duties of religion he would have little said about them. In a word, he is all things to all men, in a very different sense from what Paul meant. In his sentimnents, his associations, his pleasures, his mode of doing business, his conversation, his whole character, there is far too little that evinces strength of holy principle and godliness. 0 reader, has your case been described? You are then a backslider from the God whom you covenanted to serve.

A fourth sign of a state of declension in spirituality is an unwillingness to receive Christian counsel or reproof. The Spirit of Christ is a tender, gentle, docile Spirit. When the heart of the disciple is full of holy affection, he feels that he is frail and insufficient. He seeks wisdom and strength from above and is thankful for the kind suggestions of those whose experience and opportunities have been greater than his own. If he errs and is admonished by some faithful Christian brother, he receives it meekly and with a thankful spirit. "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness," is time language of his heart. Even though reproof in itself be painful, he would not that it should be omitted when he has been in fault, for he dreads nothing so much as doing wrong---as sinning against God and his own soul.

But the spirit that departs from God and duty is a self-willed spirit. It is impatient of restraint. It is irritable and captious instead of meek and willing to be taught. It cannot brook any crossing of its views, but esteems advice impertinent and meets admonition with resentment. When he exhibits such a temper of mind; when he disregards the opinions and feelings of fellow Christians; when he affects independence and prides himself on doing as he pleases; when he keeps out of the reach of Christian counsel, and justifies himself when affectionately reproved; when he comes to regard the watchfulness of others over him as an unwelcome and irksome thing; [when he charges you with having a spirit of faultfinding, of having no charity, but that you only discourage and press him down when you try to show him his lack of spiritual life],---it is clear that he exhibits no more the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s influence on his soul. His piety has declined; he no longer lives in intimacy with God and in the atmosphere of heaven. His light is dim. His glory has departed.

The last indication of religious declension that we shall now speak of is a careless indifference to the danger arising from temptation. A Christian whose piety is warm and vigorous has great tenderness of conscience. He dreads the least approach of evil. Even the suggestions of sin to the mind are painful. He therefore prays earnestly and daily, "Lead me not into temptation," and carefully avoids placing himself in dangerous circumstances. Sometimes, however, you will see professing Christians who seem to want this instinctive sense of danger. They often place themselves in circumstances when they might easily have foreseen their strength of principle would be liable to be put to the severest test. They keep company in which it is nearly impossible that their moral feelings should not be defiled. They allow themselves to assort with the idle, the frivolous, with those who are given to foolish talking and jesting; they indulge idle thoughts, repeat amusing stories, read books and papers that do not gender to piety, etc. But he who is willing to go as far toward evil as he can with safety, has lost one of the greatest safe-guards of virtue. He who is ready to tamper with temptation is on dangerous ground and in a sad state of declension. 0 reader, turn ye about, shake loose from the world, draw nigh to God, let the deep breathings waft your soul upward and upward to greater heights in God’s joy and love, and this world will only be a dim specter in the distance.

Beware

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(2 John 7-9)

John repeats to this church the message about false teachers that was expressed in 1 John 4:1-3. He reminds us that it's important for us to watch out for ourselves, since by being led astray we can lose what we have found in Christ. How true this is!

Verse 9 is much needed right now. We need to be reminded that living for Christ is more than saying some words about Jesus.

Truth is important. We can't have Christ without accepting what he taught.

Dear Friend

The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
(3 John 1)

John uses the term beloved of the person he addresses. In this case it is Gaius, of whom we know nothing for sure. This was one of the most common names in the Roman Empire, and there are several mentioned in the New Testament.

Lord, help us to love one another in the truth, as John did.

No Need to "Prove" the Bible

It's not that we need to "prove" the Bible. Not at all. Forensic science can't "prove" any belief about the past in the sense in which science can prove things they observe in the present. Secular science starts with nothing more than a belief. Creation science begins with the record given us by God through his word. It is wonderful to see confirmations of the Bible through true science and to have answers to the questions of unbelievers, but ultimately faith is the result of a personal encounter with the Living God. That's the critical need. Still, it is good to be able to remove obstacles to faith.

In view of the impact of modern scientific ideas on our culture we need to be able to stand on God's Word without compromise and proclaim its truth starting with Genesis 1:1. That verse begins earth's true history, the history of man's fall into sin and of God's plan of redemption from that fall and of a glorious door of hope into an eternal future. The first chapters of Genesis explain the "why" of death and suffering as well as the "why" of the cross. The account of Noah's flood demonstrates that God judges sin and models the final judgment of this present world that is surely coming.

We must be able to both defend and proclaim the whole message of the Bible and to answer honest questions, both from our young people, and from those outside the church. We need to recognize the subtlety of Satan's attack mounted against Genesis. He recognizes far more than most Christians just how foundational it is. God has convinced me that I was wrong in my compromise and the way I used to minimize the importance of all this. How about you?

God's Power

[ by Samuel Stevenson ]

A city full of churches,
Great preachers, lettered men,
Grand music, choirs and organs;
If these all fail, what then?
Good workers, eager, earnest,
Who labour hour by hour:
But where, oh where, my brothers!
Is God’s Almighty power?

Refinement: Education!
They want the very best.
Their plans and schemes are perfect,
They give themselves no rest;
They get the best of talent,
They try their uttermost,
But what they need, my brother,
Is God the Holy Ghost!

We may spend time and money
And preach from wisdom’s lore,
But education only
Will keep God’s people poor.
God wants not worldly wisdom.
He seeks no smiles to win;
But what is needed, brother,
Is that we deal with sin!

It is the Holy Spirit,
That quickeneth the soul.
God will not take man-worship,
Nor bow to man’s control.
No human innovation,
No skill, or worldly art,
Can give a true repentance,
Or break the sinner’s heart!

We may have human wisdom,
Grand singing, great success;
There may be fine equipment,
But these things do not bless.
God wants a pure, clean vessel,
Anointed lips and true,
A man filled with the Spirit,
To speak His message through.

Great God, revive us truly!
And keep us every day;
That men may all acknowledge
We live just as we pray.
The Lord’s hand is not shortened,
He still delights to bless;
If we depart from evil
And all our sins confess.

Obedient Love

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14: 15

A man had two sons. He asked each of them to go and do a task for him. The first son simply said he wouldn't do it. Then afterwards he was sorry and went and did the task. The second one said, "Of course, I will!" But he went away and hung out with his friends. Which one did the Father's will? Which one really loved the father? (Matthew 21:- 31)

We see this parable being enacted daily among Christians. On Sunday mornings many declare their intention of doing the will of God. But by noon on Sunday they are gone and pursuing their own ways. Others fret and fume and sit in Sunday service more than a little put out that they had to get up, but as the message settles on their hearts they repent and go out quietly to do the will of the Father.

Sometimes it isn't even that obvious. We find men and women who proclaim their christianity from every platform. They boldly declare their intention to follow God. Then they go their way and follow other avenues without any concern for the Will of God. Others are not so bold, but their lives demonstrate their repentence as they follow the commandments of the Father daily.

John declares that love is obedience and that there is no way to have love without that love being expressed in obedience to the will of God. God has commandments that we must obey, and John says that his readers have known this from the beginning of their knowledge of Christ. He encourages them to be faithful in their obedience if they love the Lord.

May the Lord prompt us to demonstrate more of the love we have for Him. May He help us to follow His commandments daily as evidence of that love.

Great Is "What's-Her-Name"...

Actually her name was Diana, but who cares? She was also called Artemus, Demeter, and probably a few other names. But great she was. According to legend, a sliver image had come directly from heaven to a city on the Mediterranean coast. Whether she was real or not, the image conjured up in their pagan minds, was real enough to get them to part with their money, their morals, and their sanity.

"Great is Diana of the Ephesians" became the cry, as the whole world seemed headed for this city on the banks of the beautiful blue sea that washed Asia Minor. A temple---in fact, many temples---was built to house the orgies and celebrations that posed as spiritual worship.

Diana's temple was one of the seven, wonders of the world. It was four hundred twenty feet long and one hundred feet high. The roof was supported by one hundred columns. Each of these columns was given by a king, prince, or ruler who tried to outdo all the other royalty in the magnificence of his gift. Behind the main altar where the silver statue of Diana was kept was the world's largest repository of onyx, gold, and art. Paintings and sculptures crowded the huge area. Again, because people wanted to ingratiate themselves with the goddess, each person tried to outdo the other. In its day, this was the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum, the British Museum, and Fort Knox all in one.

If we try to understand why people would travel from the ends of the earth to go to Ephesus, we have only to remember that they hoped for some of the wealth to rub off on them. The frenzy of the New York stock market gives us some picture of the intensity of their worship. Shifty-eyed businessmen may have doubted the reality of the stories that were circulated about this voluptuous goddess, but they loved the silver and gold with which her worshipers filled their pockets. Silversmiths outdid each other in their clever icons or idols.

It was hard for me to imagine this splendor as I visited what is left of Ephesus. Fragments of marble columns jutted out from pools of stagnant water. The only music was the croaking of frogs as they resented the presence of an infrequent tourist. I practiced my high school Latin as I look at inscriptions on fallen stones. No one shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

It was hard to imagine the sensuality, the nudity, the drunken dances, and the sexual orgies that had made the brazen citizens of Ephesus the wistful, dreamy possessors of depraved minds.

Ephesus is gone. Its only glory is a letter written by a prisoner shivering in his salt-stained robe. Tentmaker, street preacher, poet, and prophet---Paul. He is remembered. He saw past the glitz and glamour to the glory. Amid the stones that were bound to crumble, he saw the church rise triumphant.

The vision never left him. Even when his physical eyes had to look out from rusting prison bars, his inward vision of God's glorious church never dimmed. More importantly, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he was able to pull back the curtains of human ignorance to show us the vision. Sometimes the vision is painful. In fact, often it is painful because it shows us how much our human perversity has made us blind. True, we grow church organizations like mushrooms. And, like mushrooms, they disappear. When carnality carves the fellowship, we moan that the church is dying. The pagan world snickers and says, "Why shouldn't the church die? It was getting old, anyway."

In his letter, Paul assures us that the church has roots that go deep---deeper even than history itself. He knew from his miraculous vision that moral and spiritual drought might make a desert of men's minds.

Hearts Lifted Up

As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
(2 Chronicles 26:5)

It's tragic to witness someone starting out well in life and then finishing poorly. That's the life story of Uzziah. He had been appointed king at the tender age of 16. Despite being so young, we read that "he did what was right in the sight of the Lord...He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper" (2 Chronicles 26:4-5).

Uzziah's fame spread and his army grew stronger (v.8). He had 2,600 chief officers and 307,500 soldiers who helped him defeat his enemies (vv.12-13).

Sadly, we then read, "When he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction" (v.16). Uzziah had failed to remember the One who had given him success and those who had given godly counsel. He sinned against the Lord when he burned incense in the temple, and God struck him with leprosy (vv.16-19). He remained "a leper until the day of his death" (v.21).

To finish well, we need to avoid having a heart that is "lifted up." Let's remind ourselves often of the warning in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." And let's keep seeking the Lord, obeying Him, and thanking Him for all He has done.

Oh, may the Lord help us...to be humble. As needed, may He take away our sinful pride; In ourselves we're sure to stumble, May He help us stay close by His side.

Temples Not made With Hands

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
(I Corinthians 3:16)

Many times we see a trend toward treating objects and buildings as sacred. We become enraged if some evil person defaces a church. When the furnishings are destroyed, crosses torn down and broken, Bibles ripped and burned we are horrified that anyone would dare defame such sacred things. Satanists make a ritual of defacing objects of religious significance becauje they feel that they are enbued with some religious power that they are thus destroying.

We find in the Old Testament that the temple and its furnishings were sacred and the uses of the various objects were specified for specific purposes and sanctified to the use of the priests in the worship of God. If they were misused they either had to be purified again or discarded as irredeemable .

But with the coming of Christ objects lost their sanctity. When God took up His residence within Mankind, man's actual body became sacred to God's use. Wheras in old testament times items were sanctified with prayer and ritual---now we are told that the very God of Peace sanctifies us wholly ( I Thess 5: 23) and we are told to present our body a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1) How much greater a temple God has now. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (I Cor 6:19) Our body. He has ceased from inhabiting buildings of stone and wood and now lives through the bodies of men! How much more are we desecrating sacred beings when we lend our bodies to fleshly pursuits that do not glorify God? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) How much more we need to be concerned with keeping our bodies sacred for His use than earthly objects that have no more significance before God.

Father, help us to honor your holy purposes with our words and actions, daily keeping ourselves set apart from sin and the world, reserved to Your use.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19)

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