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"Some Have Fallen into Spiritual Darkness..." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne

12/23/2019

The decline of spiritual light within true Churches is so glaringly obvious… shouldn't we come to understand its significance? To the dismay of many Neo-Calvinists, Robert Murray M'Cheyne admitted that such was “the case of every Christian Church” in his time. When writing in defense of a move of God that happened in his parish, M'Cheyne was forced to affirm the frequency of backsliders as commonplace among all true Churches of authentic converts. In so doing, M'Cheyne said,

“Some of those converted have now walked consistently for four years; the greater part from one to two years. Some have had their falls into sin, and have thus opened the mouths of their adversaries; but the very noise that this has made, shows that such instances are very rare. Some have fallen into spiritual darkness; many, I fear, have left their first love; but yet I see nothing in all this but what is incident in the case of every Christian Church. Many there are among us, who are filled with light and peace, and are examples to the believers in all things.” - M'Cheyne

Any serious minded believer would agree with M'Cheyne's assessment. They would empathize as those beholden to the same situation in our time. However, in the process, many good men have succumbed to the pressure of a growing tumult of Neo-Calvinists who outright deny that it is even possible for a truly converted individual to fall into spiritual darkness or lose one's first love (Rev. 2:4-5). This is the sad reality. Therefore, I plead for caution to those standing in the crossfire of theological rivalry. I plead for a slow and studious consideration of the subject, rather than a hasty agreement with the norm. I plead for loyalty to the Scripture no matter the outcome! For, as you will soon see (God willing), this subject occupies a large portion of the Bible: Firstly, in describing the transformational experience of salvation in the change from spiritual darkness to spiritual light. Secondarily, in pastoral warnings to true believers that they would walk in the glory of salvific light lest the soul is once again overtaken in spiritual darkness through backsliding into sin.

The Transformational Experience of Salvation in Christ

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” - Acts 26:18 [2 Cor. 4:3-6]

As depicted in Acts 26:18, those who have been born again have been made “meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" by virtue of God delivering us “from the power of darkness" and translating us "into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:12-13, Jn. 3:3). This translation is a conversion experience that happens by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit resulting in a "regeneration" (Rom. 8:1-11, Titus 3:5). Literally, this results in a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) - a reconciliation of a lost and darkened soul to the Living God (2 Cor. 5:18-19, Heb. 9:14). Therefore, because “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), a personal reconciliation to God means an illumination of one's darkness and lostness (2 Cor. 4:3-6). In this way we have become, by Spirit, nature, and law: “the Children of Light” (John 12:36, 1 Thess. 5:5, 2 Pet. 1:4); and because we are “the Children of the Day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5).

The moral and spiritual essence of God is light (1 Jn. 1:5); therefore, John said, “in Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4, Rom. 8:10). This being the case, it is to be expected that “there shall be no night” in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 21:23-25). Why? Because "the glory of God [will] lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23-25); therefore, all those who “are saved shall walk in the light of it” (Rev. 21:23-25). Anything else is simply inexcusable in the past, the present, or the future. Everything else is unacceptable whether in the Old Testament, the New Testament, or in the Consummated form of the Kingdom of God in the End of the World. For, the spiritual essence of the Kingdom of God is opposed to sin as light to darkness. Therefore, in all ages, the divine mandate forbids darkness from the Church. However, sadly, the backsliders of the Church don't comply with these spiritual laws (Rom. 8:2, Jas. 1:25).

Pastoral Warnings to Walk in the Light

Even the laws of natural creation depict the spiritual rules of the Kingdom. For, at the Genesis of time, it was written, "God divided the light from the darkness" (Gen. 1:4). Even so, now, things are no different (2 Cor. 4:3-6). The voice of our Creator (Ps. 33:6-9, 148:5) is calling souls out of darkness into the light for the goodliness and loveliness of divine affection ("And God saw the light, that it was good..." - Gen. 1:4). Anything else but this is utterly unreasonable and indefensible. Therefore, because these divine ethics of goodness govern the Kingdom of God in Christ, when Paul encountered various transgressors of what is good in the Church, he objected with the question: "...what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). Contrastingly, Peter affirmed, we “should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9), which would mean that we are having "no fellowship" with what God forbids (Eph. 5:11). In doing so, we are simply walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as Children of Light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” - Eph. 5:8-11

If we are alive in the Spirit through being born of God, we should walk in the Spirit. Or, as Paul explained, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). Harmoniously, according to Ephesians 5:8-11, this is the same thing as walking in the Light. Anything else would mean that we are walking in the flesh and for that we will have to suffer the consequences (Gal. 5:19-21, Rom. 8:13). On the contrary, we are exhorted to “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel” (Col. 1:23). This is our only hope. We must live, move and have our being in Jesus Christ (John 15:1-7, Rom. 6:1-23). Of course, this is because the Gospel liberates us from the flesh (Rom. 8:1-11) - the life of a normal human being! - making us radically abnormal and saintly in a fallen world of sinners (Heb. 12:14, Lk. 6:20-26).

Therefore, in describing the fallen estate of mankind, Paul warned that we should "henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened", for all such things are a product of being "alienated from the life of God" for want of true salvation in Christ (Eph. 4:17-18). Hence, true Christians are obliged to live on the contrary by virtue of being in Christ (Jn. 16:33, Rev. 2:26-27). This is exactly why Paul exhorted the Christians of Colossae, “as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him” (Col. 2:6). He wanted them to walk in the Spirit by faith in the Gospel instead of the alternative; for, to "walk as men" (1 Cor. 3:3), or, if any true Christian is found out to be a backslider who "walketh in darkness" (1 Jn. 2:11, Num. 32:23), he or she is doomed to suffer the divine verdict: "...if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die" (Rom. 8:13). In other words, according to 1 John 3:14, this is as good as abiding in death (Rom. 8:6). This is why the pastoral epistles make urgent appeals to all such backslidders, saying, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:14).

The Spirit of God rouses men from the spiritual slumber of human depravity! Howbeit, the spirits of demons will cast men into the deep sleep of fearless disobedience against God. This is exactly what it means to be overcome by "the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Eph. 6:12), or, to be "taken captive by [the Devil] at his will" (2 Tim. 2:25-26, Eph. 2:1-3, 6:12). This miserable condition of spiritual darkness and sleep has been spoken about for ages (Isa. 29:9-10, Rom. 11:7-10). Furthermore, with Babylon approaching and therewith the End of the World, things will only get darker from hereon out (Matt. 25:1-13). Illustriously, and urgently, Paul speaks of this hazardous situation of unprecedented darkness in Romans 13:11-14. We would do well to take heed.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the Day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." - Rom. 13:11-14

Urgently, Paul was speaking as one who was aware that time was running out for those who were walking in darkness. Therefore, with reference to the spiritual warfare at hand, he appealed to all sleepers to wake up and put on the whole armor of God so as to overcome the opposing adversaries of darkness (Eph. 5:8-17, 6:10-18). However, fittingly, in speaking of this in Romans 13:11-14, Paul called the divine vestments of war "the amour of light" (Rom. 13:12). He speaks in the same manner in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8. For, to put the armor on, and thereby win the war, one is essentially putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14; "The LORD is a Man of War: the LORD is His Name." - Ex. 15:3). In other words, as formerly stated, this is to "walk as Children of Light" (Eph. 5:8). This isn't a secondary issue (1 John 1:5-7).

A day of reckoning is coming for the "Sons of God" sooner rather than later (Php. 2:15-16); and, therein, God will judge the truthfulness of our profession by discerning the blamelessness of our walk before God - whether or not we are truly shining as "lights in the world" (Php. 2:12-16), or whether or not "the salt of the earth" has already lost is savor (Matt. 5:13-16, Rev. 2:1-7). At such a prospect, I bid the reader to soberly reflect upon the following pastoral warnings with a renewed understanding. For, if things are really as bad as Robert Murray M'Cheyne openly confessed, when he said, "Some have fallen into spiritual darkness...", we would do well to look to ourselves and discover if we, like others, have fallen into spiritual darkness.

“But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” - 2 Peter 3:10-14

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the Children of Light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” - John 12:35-36

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that Day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the Children of Light, and the Children of the Day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation,” - 1 Thess. 5:4-8

“For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” -Mark 13:34-37

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” -Luke 12:35-40

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"The Unquestionable Progress of Grace to Sin" - John Wesley

12/21/2019

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John Wesley actually believed that he could fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). He actually believed that he could become a castaway, and therefore he did what Paul said a man ought to do - “TAKE HEED” (1 Cor. 9:27-10:12). In so doing, Wesley learned to identify and articulate the intricacies whereby a regenerated man goes from “Grace to Sin”. John Wesley called it, “The unquestionable progress of Grace to Sin”. He believed it was a progressive thing not a sudden thing, by which a man falls from grace into a damnable condition – and he was right. Brethren, will you give John Wesley an ear for a moment?

The Calvinistic Community has, under the leadership and admirable efforts of Paul Washer, come to understand the intricacies in which a man goes from “Sin to Grace” at conversion. I applaud this work and give glory to God! But the Calvinistic Community has failed to study the means by which a man goes from “Grace to Sin”. My friends, will you hear it? First, hear Wesley describe going from “Sin to Grace” at the experience of the new birth in Christ. Then, my reader, hear him explain the progress of going from “Grace to Sin”.

From Sin to Grace - The Experience of the New Birth (John Wesley)

“I. 1. First, we are to consider, what is the proper meaning of that expression, "Whosoever is born of God." And, in general, from all the passages of holy writ wherein this expression, "the being born of God," occurs, we may learn that it implies not barely the being baptized, or any outward change whatever; but a vast inward change, a change wrought in the soul, by the operation of the Holy Ghost; a change in the whole manner of our existence; for, from the moment we are born of God, we live in quite another manner than we did before; we are, as it were, in another world.

2. The ground and reason of the expression is easy to be understood. When we undergo this great change, we may, with much propriety, be said to be born again, because there is so near a resemblance between the circumstances of the natural and of the spiritual birth; so that to consider the circumstances of the natural birth, is the most easy way to understand the spiritual.
3. The child which is not yet born subsists indeed by the air, as does everything which has life; but feels it not, nor any thing else, unless in a very dull and imperfect manner. It hears little, if at all; the organs of hearing being as yet closed up. It sees nothing; having its eyes fast shut, and being surrounded with utter darkness. There are, it may be, some faint beginnings of life, when the time of its birth draws nigh, and some motion consequent thereon, whereby it is distinguished from a mere mass of matter; but it has no senses; all these avenues of the soul are hitherto quite shut up. Of consequence, it has scarce any intercourse with this visible world; nor any knowledge, conception, or idea, of the things that occur therein.

4. The reason why he that is not yet born is wholly a stranger to the visible world, is, not because it is afar off; (it is very nigh; it surrounds him on every side;) but, partly, because he has not those senses, they are not yet opened in his soul, whereby alone it is possible to hold commerce with the material world; and partly, because so thick a veil is cast between, through which he can discern nothing.

5. But no sooner is the child born into the world, than he exists in a quite different manner. He now feels the air with which he is surrounded, and which pours into him from every side, as fast as he alternately breathes it back, to sustain the flame of life: And hence springs a continual increase of strength, of motion, and of sensation; all the bodily senses being now awakened, and furnished with their proper objects.

His eyes are now opened to perceive the light, which, silently flowing in upon them, discovers not only itself, but an infinite variety of things, with which before he was wholly unacquainted. His ears are unclosed, and sounds rush in with endless diversity. Every sense is employed upon such objects as are peculiarly suitable to it; and by these inlets the soul, having an open intercourse with the visible world, acquires more and more knowledge of sensible things, of all the things which are under the sun.

6. So it is with him that is born of God. Before that great change is wrought, although he subsists by Him, in whom all that have life "live, and move, and have their being," yet he is not sensible of God; he does not feel, he has no inward consciousness of His presence. He does not perceive that divine breath of life, without which he cannot subsist a moment: Nor is he sensible of any of the things of God; they make no impression upon his soul. God is continually calling to him from on high, but he heareth not; his ears are shut, so that the "voice of the charmer" is lost to him, "charm he never so wisely," He seeth not the things of the Spirit of God; the eyes of his understanding being closed, and utter darkness covering his whole soul, surrounding him on every side. It is true he may have some faint dawnings of life, some small beginnings of spiritual motion; but as yet he has no spiritual senses capable of discerning spiritual objects; consequently, he "discerneth not the things of the Spirit of God; he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

7. Hence he has scarce any knowledge of the invisible world, as he has scarce any intercourse with it. Not that it is afar off: No: He is in the midst of it; it encompasses him round about. The other world, as we usually term it, is not far from every one of us: It is above, and beneath, and on every side. Only the natural man discerneth it not; partly, because he has no spiritual senses, whereby alone we can discern the things of God; partly, because so thick a veil is interposed as he knows not how to penetrate.

8. But when he is born of God, born of the Spirit, how is the manner of his existence changed! His whole soul is now sensible of God, and he can say, by sure experience, "Thou art about my bed, and about my path;" I feel thee in all my ways: "Thou besettest me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me." The Spirit or breath of God is immediately inspired, breathed into the new-born soul; and the same breath which comes from, returns to, God: As it is continually received by faith, so it is continually rendered back by love, by prayer, and praise, and thanksgiving; love and praise, and prayer being the breath of every soul which is truly born of God. And by this new kind of spiritual respiration, spiritual life is not only sustained, but increased day by day, together with spiritual strength, and motion, and sensation; all the senses of the soul being now awake, and capable of discerning spiritual good and evil.

9. "The eyes of his understanding" are now "open," and he "seeth Him that is invisible." He sees what is "the exceeding greatness of his power" and of his love toward them that believe. He sees that God is merciful to him a sinner, that he is reconciled through the Son of his love. He clearly perceives both the pardoning love of God, and all his "exceeding great and precious promises." "God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined," and doth shine, "in his heart," to enlighten him with "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." All the darkness is now passed away, and he abides in the light of God's countenance.

10. His ears are now opened, and the voice of God no longer calls in vain. He hears and obeys the heavenly calling: He knows the voice of his Shepherd. All his spiritual senses being now awakened, he has a clear intercourse with the invisible world; and hence he knows more and more of the things which before it could not "enter into his heart to conceive." He now knows what the peace of God is; what is joy in the Holy Ghost; what the love of God which is shed abroad in the heart of them that believe in him through Christ Jesus. Thus the veil being removed which before interrupted the light and voice, the knowledge and love of God, he who is born of the Spirit, dwelling in love, "dwelleth in God, and God in him."

From Grace to Sin - The Process and Progress of Falling From Grace (John Wesley)

“8. To explain this by a particular instance: David was born of God, and saw God by faith. He loved God in sincerity. He could truly say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth," neither person nor thing, "that I desire in comparison of thee." But still there remained in his heart that corruption of nature, which is the seed of all evil.

"He was walking upon the roof of his house," (2 Sam. 11:2,) probably praising the God whom his soul loved, when he looked down, and saw Bathsheba. He felt a temptation; a thought which tended to evil. The Spirit of God did not fail to convince him of this. He doubtless heard and knew the warning voice; but he yielded in some measure to the thought, and the temptation began to prevail over him. Hereby his spirit was sullied; he saw God still; but it was more dimly than before. He loved God still; but not in the same degree; not with the same strength and ardour of affection. Yet God checked him again, though his spirit was grieved; and his voice, though fainter and fainter, still whispered, "Sin lieth at the door; look unto me, and be thou saved." But he would not hear: He looked again, not unto God, but unto the forbidden object, till nature was superior to grace, and kindled lust in his soul.

The eye of his mind was now closed again, and God vanished out of his sight. Faith, the divine, supernatural intercourse with God, and the love of God, ceased together: He then rushed on as a horse into the battle, and knowingly committed the outward sin.

9. You see the unquestionable progress from grace to sin: Thus it goes on, from step to step. (1.) The divine seed of loving, conquering faith, remains in him that is born of God. "He keepeth himself," by the grace of God, and "cannot commit sin." (2.) A temptation arises; whether from the world, the flesh, or the devil, it matters not. (3.) The Spirit of God gives him warning that sin is near, and bids him more abundantly watch unto prayer. (4.) He gives way, in some degree, to the temptation, which now begins to grow pleasing to him. (5.) The Holy Spirit is grieved; his faith is weakened; and his love of God grows cold. (6.) The Spirit reproves him more sharply, and saith, "This is the way; walk thou in it." (7.) He turns away from the painful voice of God, and listens to the pleasing voice of the tempter. (8.) Evil desire begins and spreads in his soul, till faith and love vanish away: He is then capable of committing outward sin, the power of the Lord being departed from him.

10. To explain this by another instance: The Apostle Peter was full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; and hereby keeping himself, he had a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man.Walking thus in simplicity and godly sincerity, "before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles," knowing that what God had cleansed was not common or unclean. But "when they were come," a temptation arose in his heart, "to fear those of the circumcision," (the Jewish converts, who were zealous for circumcision and the other rites of the Mosaic law,) and regard the favour and praise of these men, more than the praise of God. He was warned by the Spirit that sin was near: Nevertheless, he yielded to it in some degree, even to sinful fear of man, and his faith and love were proportionably weakened. God reproved him again for giving place to the devil. Yet he would not hearken to the voice of his Shepherd; but gave himself up to that slavish fear, and thereby quenched the Spirit. Then God disappeared, and, faith and love being extinct, he committed the outward sin. Walking not uprightly, not "according to the truth of the gospel," he "separated himself" from his Christian brethren, and by his evil example, if not advice also, "compelled even the Gentiles to live after the manner of the Jews;" to entangle themselves again with that "yoke of bondage," from which "Christ had set them free."”

In Conclusion

It is obvious that John Wesley didn't believe in “works salvation”. It is obvious that he had a deep understanding of salvation by “faith alone through grace alone, apart from works”. It is also obvious that Wesley believed in a present-continuous salvation experience - that the respiration and life of a saved man exists by and is expressed in what is commonly called, “the means of grace”. The closing paragraph of this excerpt thrusts at the reader this concluding burden.

It is as if you can hear John Wesley cry to the saints of his day, “USE THE MEANS OF GRACE!” Do you agree? Speaking of such, Wesley wrote, “Let us learn, Lastly, to follow that direction of the great Apostle, "Be not high-minded, but fear." Let us fear sin, more than death or hell. Let us have a jealous (though not painful) fear, lest we should lean to our own deceitful hearts. "Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall." Even he who now standeth fast in the grace of God, in the faith that overcometh the world, may nevertheless fall into inward sin, and thereby "make shipwreck of his faith." And how easily then will outward sin regain its dominion over him! Thou, therefore, O man of God! watch always; that thou mayest always hear the voice of God! Watch, that thou mayest pray without ceasing, at all times, and in all places, pouring out thy heart before him! So shalt thou always believe, and always love, and never commit sin.”

I know that many are confused over what exactly John Wesley believed about sinless perfection. Therefore, I think it is necessary to make a personal statement on this in relationship to the sermon that I have cited, lest my reader misunderstand what exactly I believe. John Wesley preached these excerpts which I have quoted above in the sermon called, “The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God”, and it is of noteworthy importance concerning the subjects I have endeavored to defend. However, this sermon has several differences from the former work that Wesley wrote called, “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection”. I am not altogether sure if Wesley’s convictions had “matured” away from his former heresies, but this sermon is not the same burden that he wrote about in “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection”. In this sermon Wesley is exactly aligned with the true teaching of scripture, unlike the deplorable address he formerly wrote, on what he called, “Christian Perfection”. This sermon is blessed, edifying, and accurate, but the former book is grievously erroneous and heretical, though not in a damnable sense.

To be more specific, this sermon is an off-shooting contradiction to John Wesley’s former conviction on “sinless perfection” because here, in this sermon, Wesley is careful to define “doth not commit sin” as a “voluntary” and “outward transgression” of the written word of God, which means that, mind you, he is not maintaining that this scripture, “doth not commit sin”, ascribes to the possibility and actual experience of being free from all inward sin, but in “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection” Wesley is careful to state the contrary, that, according to him, “Christian Perfection” is freedom from all inward and outward sin. This sermon, therefore, is a closer representation of what all saints should ascribe to regarding the actual experience of saving grace and falling from it, relating to the process and progress of falling from it as a regenerated man.

This sermon is of great value and edification because John’s explanation of the “new birth” experience is a well-written and worthy account, and later in the sermon, in the address in which he focuses on falling from grace, the clarity with which he describes the progress in which “the fall” happens does attest to the sudden instance in which, by following the progress, one falls from the security of, and actual experience in, present-continuous saving grace. John explains, in other words, the experience of going from sin to grace at conversion, and, on the contrary, the process and progress by which a saved man can go from grace to sin. This is in accordance to what was written, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Prov. 24:16).

This means – it happens! – a righteous man does fall into and is temporarily detained by a damnable-force of sin, but “if God permit” (Heb. 6:3) or “peradventure” (2 Tim. 2:25), the man will rise up again! However, remember, if the man falls without recovery therefrom, legally speaking, this is “the mischief” which was “of old ordained” to “the wicked” (Jude 1:4, 1 Pet. 2:8), and thus shall he everlastingly remain (Ezek. 3:20, 18:22, 24, Jer. 23:39, Rev. 3:5). Furthermore, at what point salvation is irreversibly lost (The Doctrine of Reprobation), or at what instant the man becomes a “castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27), is not for us to debate about. This judgment belongs to God ("Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?" - Gen. 18:25). The instant this irreversible threshold is crossed to wit the fallen man becomes a castaway is a point that is non-formulaic and incalculable to us. God decides based upon circumstances we cannot understand. Moreover, anything we do understand about such events is by way of past examples recorded in inspired Scripture (“those men which have…tempted Me now these ten times” - Num. 14:22; Heb. 4:1).

Oh, my brethren, let us understand the depths of our depravity, yes, but also the inner-workings of grace in relationship to our experiential salvation from our depravity! Vital reality with the Living God causes the saints to shout – “I am eternally secure!” – there is no doubt about this fact and no argument to refute it! But without vital reality with God all security is lost! Therefore, I plead, let us learn this one thing: our salvation is not in a transaction but a Person to whom we are reconciled by a transaction, therefore let us look away from the isolated transaction as a thing in and of itself, for it cannot exist in and of itself, but let us look to the Person of Christ, and as Paul Washer said, let us be terrified to take our eyes off of Him!

“When what I love to hear is, ‘I’m looking unto Him! I’m looking unto Him, and would be
terrified to take my eyes off of Him! I’m looking unto Jesus!” – Paul Washer

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A Voice Clarified - Leonard Ravenhill

12/12/2019

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Leonard Ravenhill

Multitudes of people have acknowledged Leonard Ravenhill as a prophet sent by God,
but have we really heard what he said?

Dear reader, it was for good reason that Leonard Ravenhill said, "The last words of Jesus to the church (in Revelation) were 'Repent!'" It is startling to consider the last words of Jesus Christ, as seen in Revelation 2-3. These letters were written to true and authentic converts of biblical Churches, and yet Christ's predominant burden was, "Repent!" Approximately 2,000 years have past since then, but I assure you, this very same word is burning upon the heart of the living and ascended Christ! I entreat you that you would listen to the following videos with an ear to understand why...

VIDEO #1: "To the Preacher" - The Idolatry of Intelligence, by Leonard Ravenhill
VIDEO #2: "To the Preacher" - Anointed by God, by Leonard Ravenhill
VIDEO #3: "The Church" - The Arena of God's Immediate Sovereignty, by Leonard Ravenhill
VIDEO #4: "Suffering" - The Marks of God's Approval, by Leonard Ravenhill
VIDEO #5: "To the Calvinist" by Leonard Ravenhill
VIDEO #6: "The Coming Revival" by Leonard Ravenhill

"To the Preacher" - The Idolatry of Intelligence

by Leonard Ravenhill

#1) We call it intelligence, God calls it pride.
#2) My heart is full of Christ, not my head is full of theology! My heart is full of Christ and longs this glorious message to declare!
#3) You don't need know your Bible... You don't need to know the word of God, you need to know the God of the word!
#4) Where is the confrontation of the MEN OF GOD?
#5) Prayer grasps eternity. It doesn't demand a colossal intellect. It doesn't demand a vast vocabulary.
#6) Do you think you can find a Church on earth that fits into that pattern?
#7) We are boasting about something we don't have! ...It's Theology. It's a Phrase. It's a Technique.
#8) Do you know, in those revivals, never once was there an altar call? Do you know, when there's a revival you don't make an altar call?
#9) Listen, there isn't a Pentecostal Church in America today!
#10) There isn't a revivalist in America today... not one!
#11) No mention of the pew, it's all on the pulpit. Let the priests weep... Let them rend their hearts. Let them howl.
But where in God's Name do you get taught to howl in prayer?
#12) If you want to know how popular a Church is, go Sunday morning. If you want to know how popular the preacher is, go Sunday night. If you want to know how popular God is, go to the prayer meeting.
#13) Listen. Forget our seminaries! There's no anointing in them!
#14) Do you know what you do when you go to seminary? You get a swollen head and a shrunken heart.
#15) I say, if your preacher doesn't weep, you weep over the preacher!
#16) Tell me this, do you have a course on weeping for them? And if they graduate, do you have a course on howling?
#17) It originates in God. (Speaking of the Anointing, Gift, and Call to Preach)
#18) Would like to pass your mantle on to me? No, but I'll share you some of my sackcloth... and I never hear from them again.
#19) They were unlearned and ignorant men... the Holy Ghost came upon them. Not intellectuals, bishops, & presidents of colleges.
#20) God's going to bypass organized religion and systems before very long... I believe that many denominations are breathing their last right now.
#21) The Church has become so carnal... the glory of the Lord doesn't fill the Temple!

"To the Preacher" - Anointed by God

by Leonard Ravenhill

#1) WE NEED PROPHETS!
#2) It was in the darkest and most desolate hour that God raised up His prophets!
#3) They see like God, they love like God, they hate like God... they have a holy anger.
#4) I know when He speaks... I know when He breaks my heart... I know when He gives me anger... which I need.
#5) Not a profession... a passion.
#6) What's the condition in America like spiritually tonight? ZERO. Why?
#7) Because we've got blind men coming out of seminaries... as blind men, they lead the blind.
#8) The enemies of the cross of Christ are not in the tavern now... they're in God's House.
#9) I believe God will look down on nearly every Church in America or England this Sunday and say, "Your House is empty."

"The Church" - The Arena of God's Immediate Sovereignty

by Leonard Ravenhill

God's immediate sovereignty, what is it?
"People do not leave the sanctuary for hours."
"You can't explain it, you can't predict it, you can't direct it... God becomes sovereign!"

God's immediate sovereignty is not "Christian Humanism":
"We'll do it, You bless it Lord."
"We put personalities up, just like the world does."
"He said, 'I want to tell you that if God withdrew the Holy Spirit from my church today, it would function tomorrow the same way we wouldn't even know He'd gone...'"
"Come our way..."

God's immediate sovereignty is when, suddenly... God comes:
"When he prayed God just came down as though He jumped into the audience."
"He prayed the whole night for the anointing for the next day."

God's immediate sovereignty is when God is in control and His burden manifest:
"And I just walked forward and sat on the floor - didn't go to the pulpit: ...and I began to weep."
"My spirit just groaned, and he stayed there 50 minutes weeping."

Instead of God's immediate sovereignty we've become carnal and mechanical:
"The Church has become so carnal...
the glory of the Lord doesn't fill the Temple!"
"When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary and say, 'Surely God is in this place, and that to bless us!'"
"They don't expect Deity to invade the place. They don't expect to tip-toe out of the holy place..."
"God only had one problem in the Old Testament, and that was Israel. And I believe Almighty God only has one problem in the world tonight, and it's not communism or romanism, it's the Church of the Living God!"
"The Glory has departed!"

What must we do?
"I'd like to see 300 pastors come together, for a whole week and stay prostrate before God."
"TOTAL control by YOU."
"If we stay here it doesn't matter whether we die here."
"Our people don't feed on God, they feed on meetings."
"So I am praying this morning that suddenly God will come."

We must rediscover worship:
"I haven't been in a Church in England where they know how to worship God."
"Sometimes the glory comes down..."
"Maybe before you die, you'll see people coming from foreign countries to show us what New Testament Christianity is all about."
"There's not a flood of revival in America today."
"God is bypassing us, provoking us..."

"Suffering" - The Marks of God's Approval

by Leonard Ravenhill

Are we willing to suffer?
"..we raise our hats to the martyrs, and we thank God for the last drop of their blood but we won't give Him the first drop of ours."

In what circumstance will we suffer?
"What about when God does it with you? In your Church, people begin to ridicule you... but that's the way you make character."

To what end will we suffer?
"If you're going to be a prophet you'll have to preach repentance, and before you start - dedicate your head to heaven."
"You get filled with the Holy Ghost, and watch it, where will you go? You'll go where those other men have gone... they've put them in prison."
"He went to cities and he had one of two things: Revival or Riot"

Who is suffering?
"There isn't a prophet in America today that I know of."
"Immediately he takes up that mantle of prophesy - he gets the full load of the love of God and the full anger of the people."

Will a prophet suffer persecution from the Church, the saints, and godly people?
"Don't care about public opinion. Don't care what godly people say or what the ungodly say: ...till they get a hold of the will of God and they run with it."
"If you stir hell up, the devil will stir everything he can against you: you'll get misunderstood, misrepresented... if you're not mature enough, it will get you down. It's not the contradiction of sinners... It's the criticism of saints that gets you down."

What success can come from suffering?
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed bed of the Church."

Should we expect suffering?
"We are fools for Christ's sake" - 1 Cor. 4:10
"Why do you expect to be accepted?"

Can this suffering be described and specified?
"They were most despised, discredited, disappointed, disillusioned men in the world."
"Pentecost in the New Testament meant to be married to: Poverty, Persecution, Privation, Prisons, Pain."

"People say, 'We want another Pentecost.' I don't believe them for a minute. Pentecost in the New Testament is tied in with persecution, poverty (and) prison!"

"The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity."

"To the Calvinist"

by Leonard Ravenhill

The Major Burdens

The Idolatry of Church History:
"We've too many preachers studying Church History, and too few preachers making history. Studying Church History is an indoctrination which, very often becomes I think... 'brain washing'." (beware of "blind indoctrination")

Is modern Christianity the blood-bought Church?
"He didn't die for this freak of a thing! This powerless thing!This pale, pathetic, powerless, putrid Protestantism that dares to label itself with His Name!"

Is the Holy Ghost always with a man?
"The Holy Ghost may not come back to you...
Some of you preachers are preaching a theology and you're sheltering behind a denomination, and you're scared stiff to preach the revelations God has given you..."
"God's going to do a new thing in this generation."

How does a Saint Backslide?
"Resist. Strive. Grieve. ...when you finish that, He leaves you. You can't get back to God when you want."

Blood Atonement:
"I have to put off the old man.
I have to put on the new man.
I have to renounce this world..."
"We're living in bankruptcy as the Church of Jesus Christ, compared with where we ought to live."
"Paul says, you're to put on the whole armor of God - it's not something automatic you've got to put it on."
(shun over-simplistic definitions of The Atonement)

To the Backslider:
"Tonight, in one act of mercy, He can take your record and cast it behind His back forever..."
"He'll be weeping until you come back. You said no to His blood."
(a backslider is a regenerated man under the guilt of unforgiven sin)

Cleansing From Sin:
"Lord, I'm glad that Fountain is still open tonight..."
(cleansing from sin is a present continuous experience)

We're Going to be Found Out:
"But if I am living now with eternal life, why should I need to change before I get into heaven?"
"'Don't you worry, God will never forsake you... it doesn't matter, you may leave Him but He will never leave you.' That is entirely against the scripture."
"If the Spirit troubles you this morning, thank God He is troubling you... before you go to hell."

What Pastoral Burden?
"You think they'd go in to that sin if they had an eye on the Judgment Seat?"
(that the fallen would be restored by rediscovering the Judgment Seat)

The State of the Church:
"The Church is asleep today."
"God only had one problem in the Old Testament, and that was Israel. And I believe Almighty God only has one problem in the world tonight, and it's not communism or romanism, it's the Church of the Living God!" "The Glory has departed!"
(the Church has fallen asleep... are you awake?)

The Church needs God:
"You're too late, I'm getting rid of you. Your House is left desolate.
You say America needs God, no she doesn't... the Church needs God! If the Church gets God, America would soon feel it - she'd be staggering."
"There's one promise God hasn't kept... I think He's about to do it: He said He'd spew us out of His mouth."

Who's the Bride of Christ?
#1) Him that overcometh.
#2) Those of us who are living in victory
#3) Walking in the Light.
#4) Walking in the Spirit.
#5) No bitterness.
#6) No defeat.
#7) Your living in union with the will of God.
#8) People hate you and despise you.
"You don't want Jesus to come as you are now..."

The State of the Church:
"Your Church has no vision, because you have no vision. The Church has no passion, because you have no passion."
"He's not coming for a limping, lame, ragged woman..."
"The hindrance to His coming tonight is that the Church is impure." "Do you think Jesus died for this dirty, rotten system we call 'Christianity'?" (preacher, have you prepared the Bride?)

A Midnight Cry:
"There is only one reason that the world is going to hell tonight, and that is because of the unbelief of the Church."
"I believe almost (not all), almost every pulpit in the land is an insult to the Lord Jesus today." (will you respond to the cry?)

"The Coming Revival"

by Leonard Ravenhill

#1) He's going to anoint your sons and your daughters, not your bishops sir... No, I'm sorry bishops.
#2) He's going to show us the Church anointed again in the Spirit of the Living God!
#3) When the Church is healthy... hell trembles.
#4) They must be young people.... working class people. Not the elite.
#5) (They will be people like): Fishermen of Galilee, A Tax Collector
#6) We're going to see men in our generation that have never been on the earth.
#7) God's going to raise some super holy men... people aren't ready.
#8) Folk don't want my message anyhow.
#9) There's going to come another "Upper Room". You young men are my hope.
#10) God wants some people crazier than I am.
#11) There's not a flood of revival in America today. God is bypassing us, provoking us...
#12) The Church has become so carnal... the glory of the Lord doesn't fill the Temple!
#13) God's going to bypass organized religion and systems before very long... I believe that many denominations are breathing their last right now.
#14) I am convinced that God's going to do a new work...

The Holy Ghost may not come back to you... [Matt. 13:12]. Some of you preachers are preaching a theology and your shouting behind a denomination, and you're scared stiff to preach the revelations God has given you...

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"Some Have Fallen into Spiritual Darkness..." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne

"The Unquestionable Progress of Grace to Sin" - John Wesley

A Voice Clarified - Leonard Ravenhill

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