Are you not satisfied with that? This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. John 20:26. He that lives by a faith which does not rest on feeling, but is built upon the Word of the Lord, will remain fixed and steadfast as the mount of God; but he that craves for this thing and that thing, as a token for good at the hand of the Lord, stands in danger of perishing from want of faith. Woman, why weepest thou?. Have you not felt those wounds very powerful to you in the from of assistance in time of duty? seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her._ able to trust her, and her witness ought to have been believed, but I was sitting about a fortnight ago in a very lovely garden, in the midst of all kinds of flowers which were blooming in delightful abundance all around. - Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. So you have a number of young people around you, and you are watching for their souls as they that must give account. The wounds of Jesus, next, are the marks of identity. When they have happy feelings, then they believe; but if their spirits sink, if the weather happens to be a little damp, or if their constitution happens to be a little disordered, down go their spirits, and, straightway, down goes their faith. John 20:5. He had fallen into a fit of despondency, and got away, as broken-hearted, depressed people often do, trying to get quite alone, when Christian company would be one of the best ways of finding comfort and solace. Your heavenly Father feedeth ravens, and guides the flight of sparrows: should he not much more care for you, oh ye of little faith? Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Infinite patience! If they had possessed more faith, they would have left a door open for Jesus to come in, however anxious they might have been to shut out the Jews. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. John 20:22-23. Neither nature, nor Scripture, nor type, nor song forbids us to think of our adorable Lord Jesus as one that careth for the flowers and fruits of his church. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, let this be one of the gardens in which thou dost deign to dwell until the day break and the shadows flea away." "Become not faithless, but believing." Salem Media Group. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Then said he to Thomas. How came there to be a people for God, separated, and sanctified, and consecrated, and ordained to bring forth fruit unto his name? I cannot trace our prosperity to the pastor, certainly; nor even to my beloved friends the elders and deacons, nor even to the best of you with your fervent love and holy zeal. If any two of you are sent upon the Lords business, do not pick and choose as to where you shall be, or what you shall do. Supposing him to be the gardener," thou mayest well say, "I would neither have will, nor wish, nor wit, nor whim, nor way, but I would be as nothing in the gardener's hands, that he may be to me my wisdom and my all. We ought to be the gladdest people in all the world, because Christ is ours, and is spiritually with us as he promised that he would be. Gender Revolution - What are they teaching your kids? And so I sat me still, and indulged the suggested line of thought, which I now repeat in your hearing, hoping that I may open many roads of meditation for your hearts also. Nor is it merely in seasons of enjoyment that we get these helps, but in times of deep distress. The study of the narrative, if thou pray the Holy Ghost to enlighten thee, will beget faith in thee; and thou wilt, by its means, be very greatly helped, till, at last, thou wilt say, "I cannot doubt. Thomas, even in his unbelief, is wise; he turns to his Lord's wounds for comfort. We shall be perfectly satisfied without that. Some flowers puzzle the ordinary gardener: we meet with plants which are covered with prickles, and when you try to train them they wound the hand that would help them. He is the Gardener, though not the one that Mary supposed, but what a strange request this was for her to make: If thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Could she have carried away the body of Jesus if it had been there? Among us at this day we have many persons who are like Thomas dubious, demanding signs and tokens, suspicious, and ofttimes sad. - Curtis Dickinson, Do we have an immortal soul? I. So that it is our necessity that we have Christ with us, "supposing him to be the gardener;" and it is our bliss that we have Christ walking between our beds and borders, watching every plant, training, tending, maturing all. Canst thou not perceive this? Gaze, then; intently gaze, upon thy Redeemer's wounds it thou wouldest find comfort. Oh, that thou wouldest manage it, or tell me how. John 20:25. Observe that Thomas was at once convinced. Does anybody weep because of that? This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Is it a bad season? - Richard A. Wiedenheft, Immortality - The Gift Of God Through Faith In Jesus The Christ, Immortality or Resurrection of the Dead? He was just as narrow-minded as he very well could be, as I believe modern doubters are with all their boast of their wonderful thoughtfulness and liberality. What can we do without him? In dealing with the souls of men, we meet with cases which are extremely difficult. Why weepest thou? Christianity: The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Women, The Pursuit of God - A W Tozer - Complete Book. It is he, and he alone, who can properly tend all the plants of his Fathers right-hand planting. He had not gone to the tomb, like Peter and John, to look at the grave-clothes, and to discover that Christ was not there. we have seen many other churches that were quite as hopeful as our own rent with strife, brought low by declension, or overthrown by heresy. Glorified spirits can never cease to sing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain"; for every time they gaze upon him they perceive his scars. why, dear friends, the Lord has a way of giving his people wonderful realizations. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. December 2nd, 1877 by C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892). Sometimes the anxiety even troubles his dreams, and he sighs, "O Lord, send now prosperity!" Beside that, we have the testimony of saints and martyrs, who have gone before us, dying triumphant in the faith. All rights reserved. Behold, the church is Christ's Eden, watered by the river of life, and so fertilized that all manner of fruits are brought forth unto God; and he, our second Adam, walks in this spiritual Eden to dress it and to keep it; and so by a type we see that we are right in "supposing him to be the gardener." When you preach that men are condemned for sin of which they have not repented, I will make it to be so as a matter of fact. Love, however, has many sorrows for, as Mary stood without the sepulcher, she was weeping. V. Fifthly, here is A WARNING FOR THE CARELESS, "supposing him to be the gardener." This sight seems to remind one of the mercy-seat, where the cherubim stood facing each other, and covering the mercy-seat with their outspread wings. Crave no signs, because it may be you will be presumptuous in so doing. I do not know how to put it, but surely we ought to do something worthy of such a Lord. two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the John 20:29. Think how he gave those blessed hands to the nails, and that precious side to the soldiers spear; and, as you think of them, let your love flow forth unto him who suffered thus for you. John 20:19. And say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. What is the difference between it and the wilderness if he to whom it belongs never lifts up spade or pruning-hook upon it? That reflection helped to relieve the good man's mind, and he went back to do his duty. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Especially I speak to those who have suffered bereavement. We returned home, and within five days I was smitten with disabling pain; and worse, far worse than that, he was called upon to lose his wife. This is well; but do not be worried and wearied; for, after all, the saving and the keeping of those souls is not in your hands, but it rests with One far more able than yourself. I know what it is at times to stand here and preach, and feel my Lord so near me that if I had literally seen him it would not have surprised me. I should think they were glad. John 20:14. DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON. We cannot see him, brethren, with these eyes of ours; but by faith we can behold him, so we may have gladness even as the disciples had. The Immortality of the Soul:
Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.. That truth, which you preach, shall have my seal of approval set upon it. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. I. When the "certain man" came in and saw the fig tree that it brought forth no fruit, he said unto the dresser of his vineyard, "Cut it down: why cumbereth it the ground?" God help us to be clear-minded, and not to think what we should not like to say! And then, again, there is that succession in the garden which we can not keep up. The gladdest sight out of heaven, and the gladdest sight in heaven itself, is to see the Lord. that he would do so! Whatever made me long to obey my God cannot be a lie." They are remitted. It is quite right that you should think little of yourself: perhaps to droop your head is a part of your beauty: many flowers had not been half so lovely if they had not practiced the art of hanging their heads. If at the sight of your Lord you have exclaimed, in presence of the temptation, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Examine Yourselves as to Whether You Are in the Faith - updated, The Christian's Craving for God's Word - MacArthur, Sproul, Piper, Washer, Chan. $12.99 Spurgeon's Writings in Commentary Format Benefit from the incredible wisdom of Charles Spurgeon, passage by passage. We understand its existence, "supposing him to be the gardener," but nothing else can account for it. You will be surprised to find how this familiarizing of yourself with it, by the help of the Holy Spirit, will make it as vivid to you as if you saw it; and it will have a better effect upon your mind than the sight of it would have done; for probably the actual sight would have passed away from your mind, and have been forgotten, while the contemplation of the sorrowful scene will sink deep into your soul, and leave eternal lines! God grant we may be! Rely not upon anything that can be seen of the eyes, or heard of the ears; but simply trust him whom we know to be the Christ of God, the Rock of our salvation. John 8:1. The continuance and prosperity of the church can only be accounted for by "supposing him to be the gardener." I do not think that Thomas did put his finger into the print of the nails, or thrust his hand into his Masters side. We are not going against the harmonies of nature when we are "supposing him to be the gardener." Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Suppose the living waters of God's Spirit should not come to water the garden, what then? Let your mind conceive it as passing before you. May each believing soul among you have a deep peace! Ay, but she would have done it somehow or other; for, if faith laughs at impossibilities, and cries, It shall be done, it is love that actually does the deed of holy daring. I pray you, do not so. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Lost Ark Orca Ship Skin Stats, Oral Cyclophosphamide Side Effects, Why Do Pisces Play Mind Games, How Long Can Humpback Whales Hold Their Breath, Private School Bus Transportation Services, Module Has No Attribute 'version, Magnesium Bipolar Dosage, 1963 Ford Fairlane 427 For Sale Near Hamburg, Lumbar Laminoforaminotomy Recovery Time,
Lost Ark Orca Ship Skin Stats, Oral Cyclophosphamide Side Effects, Why Do Pisces Play Mind Games, How Long Can Humpback Whales Hold Their Breath, Private School Bus Transportation Services, Module Has No Attribute 'version, Magnesium Bipolar Dosage, 1963 Ford Fairlane 427 For Sale Near Hamburg, Lumbar Laminoforaminotomy Recovery Time,