Blog (Page 23)
Acts 1 – Jesus’ Ascension, Church Gathering, Matthias the 12th Apostle
After Jesus’ death and resurrection He showed that He was alive with many proofs, appeared to the disciples for 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God. When the Holy Spirit comes they will receive power, and will be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight. Two men who stood in white robes told them that Jesus will come…
An Apple In a Bottle
Before we start our Sunday evening gatherings we’ve been reading Charles Spurgeon’s autobiography. Here’s part of what we read last night: I remember well, in my early days, seeing upon my grandmother’s mantel-shelf an apple contained in a phial. This was a great wonder to me, and I tried to investigate it. My question was, “How came the apple to get inside so small a bottle?” The apple was quite as big round as the phial; by what means was it…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 143 – Wm. Plumer
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 143:1-12 1. Believers need no greater bulwark to their hope and confidence than can be found in the attributes of God, particularly his faithfulness and righteousness, as illustrated in providence and in the glorious plan of salvation, v. 1. 2. True piety rests not in forms of worship. Real prayer seeks and audience and an answer, vv. 1, 7. 3. Outward afflictions are often blessed to greatly quickening the conscience, and when they so…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 142 – Wm. Plumer
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 142:1-7 1. Believer, art thou brought into great straits and perplexities? So was David in the cave. The Lord heard and helped him, and he will succor all who with like faith and courage betake themselves to the throne of grace. Scott: “There can be no situation so distressing, perilous, or disgraceful, in which faith will not derive comfort from God by fervent prayer.” 2. There is no possibility of passing safely or comfortably…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 141 – Wm. Plumer
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 141:1-10 1. When evil men beset and harass the pious, their resort is a throne of grace, v. 1. The greater their distress, the louder are their cries. All human aid withdrawn, they look to God alone, nor are they disappointed. 2. In the eyes of God’s real people prayer is not an end, but a means; nor can they ever rest satisfied with the service, while they have no evidence of acceptance, v. 2.…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 140 – Wm. Plumer
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 140:1-13 1. This Psalm, like many others, shows that the best men are often brought into great perils by the wicked; so that none but God can deliver or preserve them, v. 1. 2. The wicked continually prove that their hatred is deadly, vv. 2, 3. The evidence is as clear as day. The facts are countless and indisputable. 3. The arts of falsehood, slander and abuse are as old as sin in the…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 139 – Wm. Plumer
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 139:1-24 1. There is no better shape, in which to mould our highest views in theology, than that of devotion, a psalm, a prayer, as this poem shows. Henry: “Divine truths look full as well when they are prayed over, as when they are preached over: and much better than when they are disputed over.” 2. If, as some think, this Psalm was written, when David’s good name was through calumnies under a cloud,…
Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 138 – Wm. Plumer
William S. Plumer’s Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Psalm 138:1-8 1. Nothing can release us from the obligation to utter the praises of God for all his benefits; and no good man wishes it were otherwise, v. 1. 2. In all acts of worship, in praise particularly, the heart is called for. Reluctance in this service obviously spoils it all, v. 1. Holy mirth as well befits the grateful, as holy sorrow, the penitent. 3. Whoever would worship God aright…
Exodus 8 – (2nd Plague) Frogs; (3rd Plague) Gnats; (4th Plague) Flies
The Lord told Moses to tell Pharaoh to, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.” If Pharaoh refused God would plague the country with frogs. The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron to stretch out his hand with his staff over the rivers, canals, and pools and make the frogs come up. Aaron did and frogs covered the land. Pharaoh’s magicians did the same and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Pharaoh asked Moses and Aaron…
Exodus 7 – Moses & Aaron Before Pharaoh, The 1st Plague: Water to Blood
The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, Aaron your prophet. Speak all I command, Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people go. I will harden Pharaoh’s heart Pharaoh’s heart, though I multiply my signs and wonders Pharaoh won’t listen to you. I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring the children of Israel out through acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know I am the Lord.” Moses and Aaron did as commanded.…