Friday, May 29, 2009

How Sure Is Your Foundation?

Several years ago, my oldest son, Chris, gave me a 10-volume set of Charles H. Spurgeon's sermons. It took me a little over a year to read and study them and they have enriched my spiritual life in more ways than I can count. Along the way, I picked up a book by Spurgeon entitled, "Evening By Evening", which consists of evening devotions. This is the book I have been using to post a few of his devotions.

Today's message (or I should say "tonight's") is no exception. It is a timeless and telling message, in that it speaks of a problem within our church and Christian community that is escalating in a disturbing way. The enemy has not ceased his work, rather he is feverishly attacking and attempting to undermine the church foundation because he knows his time is short. I hope you read it and that it blesses you to examine and shore up the Foundation on which you stand.

In Christ,

Karen

"Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho." Joshua 6:26

"Since the man who rebuilt Jericho was cursed, much more damned are those who labor to restore false religions among us. In our fathers' days, the gigantic walls of unrighteousness fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets. Now there are some who want to rebuild accursed, so-called religious systems on their old foundations. O Lord, be pleased to thwart these unrighteous endeavors and pull down every stone upon which they build.

It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error that may have a tendency to foster an ungodly spirit. Then, when we have made a clean sweep at home, we should seek in every way to oppose sin's all-to-rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret through fervent prayer and in public through giving a strong testimony. With judicious boldness, we must warn those who are inclined to believe false teachings. We must instruct the young in Gospel truth and alert them to the sinful practices of religion in past times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for false teachers, like owls, hate daylight.

Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the Gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the enemy. What are we doing to distribute the Bible? Are we spreading abroad good, sound Gospel writings? Luther once said, 'The devil hates goose quills,' and, undoubtedly, he has good reason: ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have done the devil's kingdom much damage. If the thousands who read this brief word tonight will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory will speed among the sons of men.

Reader, what can you do? What will you do?"