Milo

17 AUGUST (PREACHED 16 AUGUST 1767)

Safety in trusting the Lord

‘The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.’ Proverbs 29:25
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Daniel 3:1–30

Here is the remedy for the fear of man: Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD. If you have God and conscience on your side, none can prevail against him—but this implies knowledge and sincerity.

See how safe were:
(i) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—they would not worship [Daniel 3].
(ii) Daniel—he would pray [Daniel 6].
(iii) Yea Stephen—safe though slain [Acts 7].
Consider:
(i) God has all hearts in his hand.
(ii) He can give you better—even in temporals, but especially in spirituals.
(iii) Soon these things will be at an end and then, O to be owned by him.
How awful the case of those who endeavour to entice or affright believers from their duty. There is no safety but in putting your trust in the Lord.

No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;
No love but thine can make me blest,
And satisfy my heart.

FOR MEDITATION: This is a confused world, and this seems to be an eventful period. But the Lord reigns, and he will manifest his wisdom by overruling apparent evil for real good. All things shall ultimately contribute to the enlargement and establishment of his church and kingdom. In the meantime, they who serve him have nothing to fear. He will enable them to acknowledge him here, and he will acknowledge them when he shall appear in glory.
John Newton to William Wilberforce, 4 August [1793]

SERMON: PROVERBS 29:25 [2/2]

August 16th

Does He know me

He calleth … by name. John 10:3.

When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (John 20:17.) It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine out steps intimate touch with Jesus. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine was no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could not ridicule out of her was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her; yet His blessings were nothing in comparison to Himself. Mary “saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus …”; immediately she heard the voice, she knew she had a past history with the One who spoke. “Master!”
When I have stubbornly doubted? (John 20:27.) Have I been doubting something about Jesus—an experience to which others testify but which I have not had? The other disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted—“Except I shall see …, I will not believe.” Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches come, or how they come, we do not know; but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “My Lord and my God!”
When I have selfishly denied Him? (John 21:15–17 .) Peter had denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses, and yet after the Resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. He restored him in private, then He restored him before the others. “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.”
Have I a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ which nothing can shake.

August 16

In waiting, I waited, for the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1, margin.)

WAITING is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people—when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of Protection. But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment—hard for him to “brighten the corner” where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. “The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord,” reads Psalm 37:23.
On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, “And the stops also.” It is a sad mistake for men to break through God’s hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the Pillar of Cloud moves.
—Sunday School Times.
When we learn to wait for our Lord’s lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead—this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading.—S. D. Gordon.
Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction and see the great throbbing tides of life go by? No; victory is then to be gotten by standing still, by quiet waiting. It is a thousand times harder to do this than it was in the active days to rush on in the columns of stirring life. It requires a grander heroism to stand and wait and not lose heart and not lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up work and honors to others, to be quiet, confident and rejoicing, while the happy, busy multitude go on and away. It is the grandest life “having done all, to stand.”—J. R. Miller.

16 AUGUST (PREACHED 16 AUGUST 1767)

The fear of man

‘The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.’ Proverbs 29:25
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Proverbs 29:1–27

All opposition to the ways and people of God are originally from the devil. To this purpose he bestirs himself more or less as he is permitted so soon as a soul begins to seek salvation by Jesus. Many can witness what they have suffered from his suggestions because they would no longer live in his service. Some are more harassed in this way by his own immediate influence. Against others, or against the same person at other times, he employs his great instrument—the world—and with but too much success, because the fear of man is a principle deeply rooted in our human nature. We are departed from God and are naturally prone to serve, love, trust and fear the creature more than the Creator. The heart of man is so at enmity against God, that whoever will be the Lord’s servant, will on that account stand exposed to the resentment and displeasure of men.
The fear of man bringeth a snare. This hurries many on in a course of sin. It is not so much for the pleasure they find, as that they are influenced by others. They depend upon their favour, or are afraid of their frown. This keeps many from confessing the truth, who are convinced of it in their hearts (as in John 12). This draws many away from the people of God who had for a season joined them. They are afraid of their anger, afraid of their reviling. If it cannot be maintained without breaking the peace of their families, endangering their worldly interest, or exposing them to suffer, they will give it up.
A snare. It works secretly and gradually—leads to a train of vain reasoning. People do not give up all at once, but, by endeavouring to keep fair with God and the world together, they grow worse and worse. Therefore take heed of beginnings. Every compliance will lead you farther.
FOR MEDITATION:
When any turn from Zion’s way,
What anguish has that question stirred,
(Alas! what numbers do!)
If I will also go?
Methinks I hear my Saviour say,
Yet, LORD, relying on thy word,
‘Wilt thou forsake me too?’
I humbly answer, No!

SERMON: PROVERBS 29:25 [1/2]

August 15th

Signs of the new birth

Ye must be born again. John 3:7.

The answer to the question “How can a man be born when he is old?” is—When he is old enough to die—to die right out to his ‘rag rights,’ to his virtues, to his religion, to everything, and to receive into himself the life which never was there before. The new life manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness.
“As many as received Him.” (John 1:12.) Is my knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned by listening to others? Have I something in my life that connects me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour? All spiritual history must have a personal knowledge for its bedrock. To be born again means that I see Jesus.
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.) Do I seek for signs of the Kingdom, or do I perceive God’s rule? The new birth gives a new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God’s rule. His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature, I can see His rule.
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never—Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically—A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.