Saturday, September 8, 2007

Divine Power

Recently, I love so many of Charles Spurgeon's Devotionals.

Evening...

Ephesians 1:19, 20:
The exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead.


In the resurrection of Christ, as in our salvation, there was put forth nothing short of a divine power. What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man, and is due to his own betterness of disposition? When we shall see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their own free will turning to Christ. It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself; all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Ghost. This power was irresistible. All the soldiers and the high priests could not keep the body of Christ in the tomb; Death himself could not hold Jesus in his bonds: even thus irresistible is the power put forth in the believer when he is raised to newness of life. No sin, no corruption, no devils in hell nor sinners upon earth, can stay the hand of God's grace when it intends to convert a man. If God omnipotently says, "Thou shalt," man shall not say, "I will not." Observe that the power which raised Christ from the dead was glorious. It reflected honour upon God and wrought dismay in the hosts of evil. So there is great glory to God in the conversion of every sinner. It was everlasting power. "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him." So we, being raised from the dead, go not back to our dead works nor to our old corruptions, but we live unto God. "Because He lives we live also." "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Lastly, in the text mark the union of the new life to Jesus. The same power which raised the Head works life in the members. What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ!

8 comments:

Mimi said...

Wonderful post
"The Lord Lives! Blessed by my Rock Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation! 2 Sam. 22:47

Maxine said...

Spurgeon is a favorite of mine also! He is so Christ-cenered. I pray that you have a wonderful Lord's Day tomorrow.
I see you go to Farese.com too--he's bookmarked on my computer.
More that we have in common, I see. :)Hope you got my email. I mailed the book.

Cathy said...

Thanks, Mimi, and preach on with that wonderful scripture! :o)

Maxine, you also have a wonderful day tomorrow. I found the Farese.com at Beka's I believe, but could have been yours. I haven't checked my email yet, but will. :o)

Patricia said...

Hi Cathy. I hope you are having a wonderful sabbath. I, too, love Spurgeon's devotionals. Very powerful. Thanks for commenting on my Photo Hunt entry. Emily and I had a wonderful time. I posted a Part II, if you care to take a look it is here. It includes a little summary from Emily. I try to be a little less "in your face" in my Photo Hunt posts and let the photos speak for themselves because many of those who come to Pollywog Creek for the Photo Hunt are not believers...but I figured it would be OK if they read a testimony from Emily. =)

Love,
Patricia

Cathy said...

Patricia, That was something about the concert! You can tell she was really excited and happy. And it is great she can witness like that. I might be old, but I love Third Day. I know the others are wonderful, I'm just not that familiar with them. I'm glad it was not too loud. :o) And I think it is great how you attend the concerts with her.
In His love, dear sister,
Cathy
PS- Still no little babies arriving yet. :-)

Jodi said...

I do so enjoy Spurgeon! I thought about just commenting with the words "Romans 9" :o). . . I was reading several chapters in Romans yesterday and this post certainly compliments that chapter!

Beka said...

Irresistible power, indeed.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7

Cathy said...

Thank you, Jodi, I need to read that chapter. :o)

And thank you, Beka, for the beautiful scripture. :o)