Michael E. Wood
September 2, 2011
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4
With church growth comes the necessity for many temporal needs to be met, and God has ordained that His children should love Him supremely and have the same love for one another as they have for themselves. Whatever and wherever these needs abound, God’s grace does much more abound through those whom He has prepared as an expression of His glory to meet those needs. The calling of God upon some, regardless of the pressures without, is that they might give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
The priority of the man of God
Is the Word of God and prayer,
That he be strong to wield the sword
Of the Spirit through every layer
Of soul and spirit, dividing asunder,
Discerning intents of the heart,
As God in truth reveals now Himself
Through Jesus and yet but in part.
For now we see as in a poor mirror
Things so imperfectly,
But then everything we shall see
With all perfect clarity.
Oh who has known the mind of the Lord?
For His ways are past finding out,
Or knows enough to be His advisor,
For no one has that kind of clout.
How great are His riches and wisdom
And knowledge to lead His dear children along
To show forth His glory, our purpose forever
In Jesus to whom we belong.
By Christ’s’ sacrifice we are raised up
To be about our Father’s business,
Recounting the cost; His blood on the cross,
The glory of His faithful witness!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
With Him Then Purified
Michael E. Wood
August 30, 2011
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
The free grace of God is that which brings about the salvation of our souls through the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Countless numbers of those who have been made to see their need of eternal salvation from sin enter into an aggressive mode of transforming the external nature of their being by complying with the things that belong to the nature of their darkened understanding resulting in earthly temporal changes. In many cases, the Bible is used as a model of that which is perceived to be acceptable to God and outward conformity to its guidelines is made with human approval as the test of accuracy. Self aggrandizement becomes the goal rather than the glory of God, and the individual remains blinded to the Person and the purpose of Christ through the gospel.
Hear the words of God through the prophet Ezekiel, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Salvation is of the LORD from beginning to end and our approval is found in Christ alone to the praise of His glory!
As long as I can hear, “Well Done”,
From God, my blessed Savior,
I’ll look to Him alone who changes
Me and my behavior.
For though the transformation
May be painful in my times,
I trust He will be glorified,
Give reason for the rhymes,
Of which I can not answer now,
But knowing He is just,
And hope in Him who takes
His children from this earthly dust
To which our bodies shall return
Until our coming King
Will glorify Himself
In our new bodies as we sing
Eternal Hallelujahs
To the One who justified
And gave the grace by which
We stand with Him then purified.
August 30, 2011
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
The free grace of God is that which brings about the salvation of our souls through the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Countless numbers of those who have been made to see their need of eternal salvation from sin enter into an aggressive mode of transforming the external nature of their being by complying with the things that belong to the nature of their darkened understanding resulting in earthly temporal changes. In many cases, the Bible is used as a model of that which is perceived to be acceptable to God and outward conformity to its guidelines is made with human approval as the test of accuracy. Self aggrandizement becomes the goal rather than the glory of God, and the individual remains blinded to the Person and the purpose of Christ through the gospel.
Hear the words of God through the prophet Ezekiel, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Salvation is of the LORD from beginning to end and our approval is found in Christ alone to the praise of His glory!
As long as I can hear, “Well Done”,
From God, my blessed Savior,
I’ll look to Him alone who changes
Me and my behavior.
For though the transformation
May be painful in my times,
I trust He will be glorified,
Give reason for the rhymes,
Of which I can not answer now,
But knowing He is just,
And hope in Him who takes
His children from this earthly dust
To which our bodies shall return
Until our coming King
Will glorify Himself
In our new bodies as we sing
Eternal Hallelujahs
To the One who justified
And gave the grace by which
We stand with Him then purified.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Point to The Table
Michael E. Wood
August 29, 2011
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:15-17
As Paul was making application to the fact that the Jewish people could not see Christ for who he was because of the veil of sin over their hearts, so likewise the same is true in our day in reference to the fact that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Though we have the complete canon of scripture the veil of sin blinds the natural eyes of men from seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But once this veil has been lifted by the Sovereign work of the Holy Spirit through the merit of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, an appetite is likewise given as a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. Thus as those that are naturally hungry need little instruction as to what to do when a feast is laid before them, let those of us who have been given responsibility to feed the lambs and sheep of God be all the more careful, dependant upon His Spirit, that it is Christ that we set before them.
It is enough to point to the table
If you have but an appetite,
For Christ himself, is meat indeed
And drink for those who find delight
In Him who’s light has broken through
Pervading all the darkest hues
Of sin which once had veiled the face
Of God Himself in Christ, by grace.
August 29, 2011
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:15-17
As Paul was making application to the fact that the Jewish people could not see Christ for who he was because of the veil of sin over their hearts, so likewise the same is true in our day in reference to the fact that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Though we have the complete canon of scripture the veil of sin blinds the natural eyes of men from seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But once this veil has been lifted by the Sovereign work of the Holy Spirit through the merit of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, an appetite is likewise given as a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. Thus as those that are naturally hungry need little instruction as to what to do when a feast is laid before them, let those of us who have been given responsibility to feed the lambs and sheep of God be all the more careful, dependant upon His Spirit, that it is Christ that we set before them.
It is enough to point to the table
If you have but an appetite,
For Christ himself, is meat indeed
And drink for those who find delight
In Him who’s light has broken through
Pervading all the darkest hues
Of sin which once had veiled the face
Of God Himself in Christ, by grace.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Apple of His Eye!
Michael E. Wood
August 18, 2011
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6
While continuing to be somewhat perplexed in the attempt of finding some kind of part time employment to supplement our income, and at the same time holding true to our calling and priorities to make Christ known, there are a number of realities we have had to face. There are the limitations which go with being fifty-five years old and the understanding that there are things of which I can no longer do physically which eliminates some opportunities. With the high cost of living, and cut backs in personnel for many companies, there are not as many opportunities, as those who have jobs are compelled to do whatever is necessary to hold on to them. Many companies which are driven solely by the love of money also require an open availability which includes working on Sundays. One glorious note is that through this process a number of opportunities to share the glories of Christ in one way or another have opened in places I would not have been if I were already employed. Thankfully, there is no such thing as unemployment in the work of the kingdom of God. Thus we trust that God will bring glory to Himself through the gospel of Christ in ways that we shall not know until we are with Him in glory, as our times and the seasons of our lives are in His hands.
“Dear friends, judge of everything in this way – whether it will help you on in the journey or no. In choosing a profession, or trade, choose it with regard to this – will it advance or hinder your heavenward journey? Will it lead you into sore temptations, or into wicked company? Oh! Take heed. What is the use of living, but to get on in our journey to heaven?” R. M. McCheyne (Numbers 10:29)
Hold on to Christ; He is our life, The Giver of all gifts.
And for His praise He doth bestow all things as grace uplifts
Our eyes of faith to see beyond what we can not behold
For the purpose that His glory shall increase; unfold
Both now in time through persevering faithfulness displayed
In and by all those He bought by blood when He was slayed,
Atoning for and proving that our God was justified
When to the cross He sent His Son and for our sins, He died.
Those things that seemed to be such tests and loomed so large to us
Will in the end prove Him to be Almighty, Glorious!
And thus with courage, look to Him Who hears our deepest cry
And watches over us through Christ, the Apple of His eye!
Oh, if you have as yet not learned sufficiency in Him
Is all we need within our hearts to praise in psalm and hymn
Our God and Father as the Sovereign Ruler over all,
On Him we cast our every care and humbly to Him call.
Then look to Him and rest upon His Word that does not change
And He will grow you as your thoughts By Him He doth arrange
To behold Him as He Is and worship in the Spirit,
God alone, Whose voice in Christ has made our ears to hear it!
August 18, 2011
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6
While continuing to be somewhat perplexed in the attempt of finding some kind of part time employment to supplement our income, and at the same time holding true to our calling and priorities to make Christ known, there are a number of realities we have had to face. There are the limitations which go with being fifty-five years old and the understanding that there are things of which I can no longer do physically which eliminates some opportunities. With the high cost of living, and cut backs in personnel for many companies, there are not as many opportunities, as those who have jobs are compelled to do whatever is necessary to hold on to them. Many companies which are driven solely by the love of money also require an open availability which includes working on Sundays. One glorious note is that through this process a number of opportunities to share the glories of Christ in one way or another have opened in places I would not have been if I were already employed. Thankfully, there is no such thing as unemployment in the work of the kingdom of God. Thus we trust that God will bring glory to Himself through the gospel of Christ in ways that we shall not know until we are with Him in glory, as our times and the seasons of our lives are in His hands.
“Dear friends, judge of everything in this way – whether it will help you on in the journey or no. In choosing a profession, or trade, choose it with regard to this – will it advance or hinder your heavenward journey? Will it lead you into sore temptations, or into wicked company? Oh! Take heed. What is the use of living, but to get on in our journey to heaven?” R. M. McCheyne (Numbers 10:29)
Hold on to Christ; He is our life, The Giver of all gifts.
And for His praise He doth bestow all things as grace uplifts
Our eyes of faith to see beyond what we can not behold
For the purpose that His glory shall increase; unfold
Both now in time through persevering faithfulness displayed
In and by all those He bought by blood when He was slayed,
Atoning for and proving that our God was justified
When to the cross He sent His Son and for our sins, He died.
Those things that seemed to be such tests and loomed so large to us
Will in the end prove Him to be Almighty, Glorious!
And thus with courage, look to Him Who hears our deepest cry
And watches over us through Christ, the Apple of His eye!
Oh, if you have as yet not learned sufficiency in Him
Is all we need within our hearts to praise in psalm and hymn
Our God and Father as the Sovereign Ruler over all,
On Him we cast our every care and humbly to Him call.
Then look to Him and rest upon His Word that does not change
And He will grow you as your thoughts By Him He doth arrange
To behold Him as He Is and worship in the Spirit,
God alone, Whose voice in Christ has made our ears to hear it!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Ark We Build
Michael E. Wood
August 26, 2011
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. Hebrews 11:6, 7
As blood bought children of God we are given the grace to desire Him, to seek Him, and praise His precious Name, to find Him! Through Christ, He has translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, and enabled us by faith to please Him. As the ark is a type of Christ, so likewise, Noah in constructing the ark was a type of Christ building His church of which the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As He, that is Christ, is in all who are His, we find ourselves embraced in the great privilege of being co- laborers together with Christ, and thus we build…..
The ark we build, we build by faith
And pray God will impress
Upon the hearts of mortal men
His holy righteousness
Which cometh not by sacrifice
Or anything we do
But only by the blood of Christ
Whose will imposed on you
By His Mighty Spirit written
On your heart and mind
Will give you such a conscience that
In Him you will then find
The peace that passes understanding
Coming from above
That caused you to be born again
Out of the Father’s love.
For not of human passion or
Through best laid plans of men
Will you ever know that God
Is love or comprehend
The truth about yourself and
Even more the awful cost
That Jesus paid, redeeming all
His own who were so lost
That nothing of this world
Could ever fully satisfy
The justice of a perfect God,
Except the He should die.
And so from wrath, He has delivered
All who look and live
By faith in Jesus only and
To Him the glory give!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Dustin Benge
Dustin W. Benge is Pastor-teacher of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Kentucky and author of the “Ordinary Pastors” blog. I posted the following message to him on his blog on August 23, 2011
Hi Dustin,
I am so thankful to find that God continues to raise up young men as you, with a passion for His glory, and the zeal to make Him known! Being much encouraged as to how our Omnipotent God and Savior knits His body together in our generation through our Lord Jesus Christ with those who have gone before as well as those who are now in the world, I trust that He will be pleased to use me to be an encouragement to you.
In recent days, having been introduced to Derek Prime through listening to a series of messages preached via CD from the "Basics Conference 2005" with Alistair Begg, I decided to investigate a little more thoroughly which brought me to the article you posted on Pastoral Advice from Derek Prime.
Having made a copy from your sight and using it as a help to formulate my thoughts in relation to the passage found in 1st John 2:1,2, and at the same time seeking the wisdom of God in discerning His will in certain areas of my life, my eyes became focused on the "Quote of the Week" by Susannah Spurgeon, "It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our blest blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." With that in mind the following was written:
I will rejoice in what You give; much more in Who You are!
You set the boundaries of the seas and hold each shining star,
In such a way that every one that looks to You for guidance
Will find You holding in Your hand the wisdom of compliance
Unto Your will as You make known, though slow we are to learn,
And yet You give more grace each day and through it we discern,
Your mercy is unfathomable and slow You are to chide,
For Jesus Christ; His sake alone, in whom we now abide.
We thank You for Your faithfulness as You communicate
Your love Oh Father to each child of whom You'll not forsake,
And for Your Holy Spirit, who enlightens our mind's eye
To focus on the truth perfected by Your great supply
Of everything that we have need to show the honor due
To Christ alone, who gave Himself, now glorified with You!
Thank you for your faithfulness to our great God and King!
Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael
Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Hi Dustin,
I am so thankful to find that God continues to raise up young men as you, with a passion for His glory, and the zeal to make Him known! Being much encouraged as to how our Omnipotent God and Savior knits His body together in our generation through our Lord Jesus Christ with those who have gone before as well as those who are now in the world, I trust that He will be pleased to use me to be an encouragement to you.
In recent days, having been introduced to Derek Prime through listening to a series of messages preached via CD from the "Basics Conference 2005" with Alistair Begg, I decided to investigate a little more thoroughly which brought me to the article you posted on Pastoral Advice from Derek Prime.
Having made a copy from your sight and using it as a help to formulate my thoughts in relation to the passage found in 1st John 2:1,2, and at the same time seeking the wisdom of God in discerning His will in certain areas of my life, my eyes became focused on the "Quote of the Week" by Susannah Spurgeon, "It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our blest blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." With that in mind the following was written:
I will rejoice in what You give; much more in Who You are!
You set the boundaries of the seas and hold each shining star,
In such a way that every one that looks to You for guidance
Will find You holding in Your hand the wisdom of compliance
Unto Your will as You make known, though slow we are to learn,
And yet You give more grace each day and through it we discern,
Your mercy is unfathomable and slow You are to chide,
For Jesus Christ; His sake alone, in whom we now abide.
We thank You for Your faithfulness as You communicate
Your love Oh Father to each child of whom You'll not forsake,
And for Your Holy Spirit, who enlightens our mind's eye
To focus on the truth perfected by Your great supply
Of everything that we have need to show the honor due
To Christ alone, who gave Himself, now glorified with You!
Thank you for your faithfulness to our great God and King!
Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael
Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)