Helps our Infirmities

On Sunday evenings, we have been working our way through the book of Ephesians. We are currently in chapter four, verse 29 and have, for the last several weeks used this verse to do a study on the person of the Holy Spirit. Tonight, we looked at the Holy Spirit and His ministry of intercession from Romans 8: 26-27. The first part of that verse says "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." Help. Not take away. Help, not remove completely. But the Spirit helps. He comes along side to help us through the trial.

We have the infirmities of sin, to which Christ died for and we have the infirmities of suffering, to which the Spirit helps, so no matter our infirmity God has either already dealt with it or will help us through it.  God does not always deliver us from suffering in this life, but God will not forsake us in the fire. God may not remove all suffering, but God will not remove us from His love. The Spirit does not remove the trial, but the Spirit comes beside us in our infirmities to help us. The Spirit does not lift us above the infirmities, but helps us to push and persevere. Glorious, comforting truth.

       Octavius Winslow said     "Approaching, He takes hold of the burden. Constrained by a love which no thought can conceive, moved by a tenderness no tongue can describe, he advances, and places the power of his Godhead beneath the pressure -- and thus he helps our infirmity..Whether it be the groaning from a pressure of sin, or from a sense of desire, or from a conviction of want, or from the smiting hand of God himself, that groaning ascends to heaven, and bears to the throne of the Eternal, whose ear bends to the softest whisper, and hearkens to the gentlest sigh of his child, a confession, or a request, which shall not be unheard, unheeded, or forgotten."....."Himself took our infirmities and bare our sickness....That very infirmity, which now bows you to the earth, by reason of which you can in no wise lift up yourself, your Saviour bore. It bowed him to the dust, and brought the crimson drops to his brow. "

Modest Apparel

Tuesday with Timothy #16
No, I have not forgotten about the series....

1Timothy 2:9-10  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 

 In like manner  referring back to the men of the church who are to lead in prayer, the women of the church have their own role to perform in public worship. It amazes me that Christianity is the favorite punching bag for women's groups. "Down with patriarchy" and so forth. It is Christianity that views women as made in the image of God. It is Christianity that has lifted women up through the centuries. It is Christianity that sees women as God's child in Christ, not as property. It is Christianity that sees dignity in all human beings, not just men and not just the powerful. It is absurd to even have to defend this proposition. Are there, I believe the technical term being kunckleheads, in Christianity who wrest the scripture to take advantage of women? Certainly. Does that destroy the truth of God's created order and what the text actually says? Absolutely not. In fact, it is the women's liberation movement that has done far more harm than good.  As G.K. Chesterton said “Ten thousand women marched through the streets shouting, 'We will not be dictated to,' and went off and became stenographers.” His point is not that women are not to labor, but that the heart of the issue of feminism is rebellion against God's order and rebellion against God's order will not put you in a better position in the end. The feminist movement is ultimately self destructive. The heart of the women's liberation movement was to liberate women from who God had made them to be, and when you leave God's created order, you will not find peace. Douglas Wilson well said " We started by employing feminism to turn first rate women into third rate men, and recently we have found ourselves turning third rate women into fifth rate men. And we are rapidly approaching the nadir, where a woman’s highest achievement will be considered as matching the worst behavior of male slobs everywhere."

Women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel. What is modest? Modest is that which is becoming a Christian lady. I love the Scripture, it is amazing to me how wonderful God's Word is in this general statement. The legalist in all of us would want Paul to say "Here is what you are supposed to wear, put it on." That would be easy. That is what you find in Islam and why you also see people stuck in a culture that ended hundreds of years ago. God's Word gives us the principle for godly dress and then the child of God must take these principles and apply them to the culture they live in and the day they live. Morality does not change, and the culture does not dictate right and wrong, but modesty is not stuck in a particular year and a particular culture. Every generation, every culture, has their standard of fashion, and in every culture, woman can dress in modest apparel without wearing a uniform. 

With shamefacedness and sobriety, or with a modest and serious minded heart, she is to dress herself for public worship. Not with broided hair, or decked with jewels but come with good works, which is becoming a godly woman. What is the principle? Is it wrong for a woman to fix her hair and to have jewelry?No - the prohibition is outlining modest apparel for us, not making a list. Being "Shamefaced and sober" is an attitude of the heart. It is the idea of bashfulness, or a regard for others. It is a self control that willingly does not want to be seen and it is with that attitude, the female members of the congregation should come to God's house. They are to come, not wanting to draw attention to themselves, and draw attention to their outward appearance, but to come in a manner of good works that Christ may be seen. It is the heart informing the closet. The attitude informs the dress.

One error is to dress in such a way as to bring attention to yourself, but the other error will have a rule for what is acceptable dress and as long as you meet that mark, there is no need to think about it anymore. Both errors are wrong because neither one gives any prayerful consideration to God's Word. If the heart does not inform the closet, then you will have women wearing modest apparel while acting immodestly. That is just as wrong as wearing immodest clothing. Women in the church are encouraged to have a meek and quiet spirit and dress accordingly. 

Only A Soldier's Grave

Happy Memorial day. Another tip of the hat to Barry Smith for sending this poem my way for another addition of Monday Verse.

By S.A. Jones

Only a soldier's grave! Pass by,
For soldiers, like other mortals, die.
Parents had he -- they are far away;
No sister weeps o'er the soldier's clay;
No brother comes, with tearful eye;
It's only a soldier's grave -- pass by.
True, he was loving, and young, and brave,
Though no glowing epitaph honors his grave;
No proud recital of virtues known,
Of griefs endured, or triumphs won;
No tablet of marble, or obelisk high;
-- Only a soldier's grave: -- pass by.
Yet bravely he wielded his sword in fight,
And he gave his life in the cause of right!
When his hope was high, and his youthful dream
As warm as the sunlight on yonder stream;
His heart unvexed by sorrow or sigh;
-- Yet, 'tis only a soldier's grave: - pass by.
Yet, we should mark it -- the soldier's grave,
Some one may seek him in hope to save!
Some of the dear ones, far away,

The heavens declare the glory of God

Long weekend? Have a few minutes?

Check out this link because it is pretty spectacular. 

It is worship inspiring to see the universe from this perspective.

Consider how awesome God is to create and sustain this universe.
Consider how wise God is to plan this universe.
We are really, really small.
Christ died for us? So small, so insignificant.
Human pride is really disgusting.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

19: 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Psalm 8:1-4  O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

A Sign it is Close

"O what a warm desire was there in the heart for free liberty to preach the gospel! And what a strong persuasion of it was there in the mind. And it was but about three quarters of a year after that we had it. If God doth incline thy heart to pray and believe for a deliverance, or any mercy, it is a sign it is not far off."

Hercules Collins

Miscellanies

• This is very interesting. I spent over a year combined of my teenage years rehabbing a torn ACL. I tore my ACL, had surgery, rehabed for 6 months, and then tore it again and started the whole process over. 
• What I found fascinating about this article was how it all came about. A young lady just thought that the current settled science seemed absurd and decided there had to be a better way. Sometimes it just takes a person from the outside to look at something to bring in fresh perspective and having the courage to go for it.
• Speaking of speaking, I was going to link to a very good article I found on freedom of speech and some almost prophetic words from George Orwell. But, it's gone from the interwebs. Maybe the website crashed. Maybe, it was a conspiracy....
• One thing that wasn't scubbed from the public record is Jeff Short's book review. If the book is half as good as the review, then I say buy it. Well done sir. Well done
• Speaking of good writing, check out the new YouTube channel of Jonathan Rogers. Preachers, watch this before writing your next article or illustration.

Grace, 'tis a charming sound

Thanks to Barry Smith for directing me to this hymn. Wonderful words. Wonderful Grace

Grace, ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace led my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road;
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray
And made mine eyes o’erflow;
’Twas grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine
My all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

Words: Verses 1, 2, 4 & 6, Philip Dodd­ridge, 1740; vers­es 3 & 5, Au­gus­tus M. Top­la­dy, 1776, alt.

Anxiety and the Christian's Cure

I've posted this article before, but in case you missed it, here is a link to the pdf:

Anxiety and the Christian's Cure


Lord bless,

DPN