Milo

October 20

“And the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7.) (Weymouth.)

THERE is what is called the “cushion of the sea.” Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least, for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance; and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.—Dr. A. T. Pierson.

When winds are raging o’er the upper ocean,
And billows wild contend with angry roar,
’Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion,
That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.

Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth,
And silver waves chime ever peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,
Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.

So to the heart that knows Thy love, O Purest,
There is a temple sacred evermore,
And all the babble of life’s angry voices
Dies in hushed silence at its peaceful door.

Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,
And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,
Disturbs the sold that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe.

“The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, facing the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace.”
—Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

20 OCTOBER (PREACHED 1770)

Keep watchful and humble

‘And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.’ Luke 9:33
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 1 Peter 5:8–11

Let not those who are upon the mount depend upon their present warm desires and resolutions, but rather, pray to the Lord to keep them watchful and humble. The enemy is upon his watch and he gained great advantage of Peter after this and terrified him to a denial of his Master. It is written for our instruction.
But some are not concerned with these things. Instead of building tabernacles upon the mount with Peter, their hearts go more with the rich man in the Gospel, who would pull down his barns and build them larger and enjoy the good things of the world for many years. Alas, this, if you could have it, would be a poor portion. You must die and leave all, and what will the world be to you then? O that you may be wise in time and seek the things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God [Colossians 3:1].
FOR MEDITATION:
‘Simon, beware!’ the Saviour said,
But JESUS lives to intercede,
‘Satan, your subtle foe,
That faith may still prevail,
Already has his measures laid
He will support in time of need,
Your soul to overthrow.
And Satan’s arts shall fail.

‘He wants to sift you all, as wheat,
Yet, let us not the warning slight,
And thinks his victory sure;
But watchful still be found;
But I his malice will defeat,
Though faith cannot be slain in fight,
My prayer shall faith secure.’
It may receive a wound.

Believers, tremble and rejoice,
While Satan watches, dare we sleep?
Your help and danger view;
We must our guard maintain;
This warning has to you a voice,
But, LORD, do thou the city keep,
This promise speaks to you.
Or else we watch in vain.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 7 [5/5], LUKE 9:33

October 19th

The unheeded secret

My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36.

The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; … for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you,” a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives in the shop window. It is the innermost of the innermost that reveals the power of the life.
We have to get rid of the plague of the spirit of the religious age in which we live. In Our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his Master. The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to Himself, not public usefulness to men. It is not its practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College, its whole strength lies in the fact that here you are put into soak before God. You have no idea of where God is going to engineer your circumstances, no knowledge of what strain is going to be put on you either at home or abroad, and if you waste your time in over-active energies instead of getting into soak on the great fundamental truths of God’s Redemption, you will snap when the strain comes; but if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in God on the un-practical line, you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

October 19

“The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them.” (Num. 10:33.)

GOD does give us impressions, but not that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression be from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt.
How beautiful is the story of Jeremiah, of the impression that came to him respecting the purchase of the field of Anathoth. But Jeremiah did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his uncle’s son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase. Then Jeremiah said: “I knew this was the word of the Lord.”
He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts, which could bring conviction unto others as well as to himself. God wants us to act according to His mind. We are not to ignore the Shepherd’s personal voice but, like Paul and his companions at Troas, we are to listen to all the voices that speak and “gather” from all the circumstances, as they did, the full mind of the Lord.—Dr. Simpson.
“Where God’s finger points, there God’s hand will make the way.”
Do not say in thine heart what thou wilt or wilt not do, but wait upon God until He makes known His way. So long as that way is hidden it is clear that there is no need of action, and that He accounts Himself responsible for all the results of keeping thee where thou art.—Selected.
“For God through ways we have not known, Will lead His own.”

19 OCTOBER (PREACHED 1770)

Making allowances

‘… As they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.’ Luke 9:33
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: John 21:15–25

A want of experience makes us very apt to mistake and misapply the cordials the Lord gives us by the way. Peter did not say, ‘Now we have seen his glory, let us take courage and be willing to do and suffer for him, for he is worthy. Let us improve the remembrance of this to make us more earnest in pleading with our friends or obstinate countrymen to believe on him.’ Friends, neighbours, services and sufferings, were all forgot, and he only thought of building tabernacles and having his present comforts continued. There is much selfishness in our hearts, often when they seem best disposed. St Paul was better taught—he had been caught up into the third heaven, yet though he had an earnest desire to depart and be with Christ, he was willing to wait for his happiness, for the sake of being useful to his church.
We may observe our Lord’s gracious compassion to the weakness of his people. He accepted Peter’s willing mind according to his light, and though what he said showed ignorance, rashness and selfishness had too much place in him, we do not find he rebuked him upon this occasion. He knows our frame, he remembers we are but dust. He does not teach us all at once, but with patience and tenderness, as we are able to bear it. We should learn of him. If we advise (as we ought to do) young believers of what is amiss in their first joy, let us do it with candour and gentleness and make allowances for those mistakes which can only be corrected by experience. Fruit is not ripened as soon as it is formed, but it is not to be thrown away because it is yet green. If good in its kind, allow it time and it will come to maturity.

FOR MEDITATION: Methinks the Apostle strongly intimates the deep depravity of our nature, when he says, Ye have need of patience … We are selfish, ungrateful creatures, and if the Lord crosses us in one thing, we are prone to forget our many calls for thankfulness.… Notwithstanding all we know, and the fine things we can say to others upon the subject, we are liable to toss like a wild bull in a net, or to sink into despondency.
John Newton to John Ryland, 30 August 1790

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 7 [4/5], LUKE 9:33