Scripture under Scrutiny by Brian Edwards

2 video clips demonstrating the authority of the Bible. I thought it was very interesting.

2 more Wesley hymns

1 LET the world their virtue boast,
Their works of righteousness;
I, a wretch undone and lost,
Am freely saved by grace;
Other title I disclaim;
This, only this, is all my plea,
I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.

2 Happy they whose joys abound
Like Jordan's swelling stream,
Who their heaven in Christ have found,
And give the praise to him;
Meanest follower of the Lamb,
His steps I at a distance see;
I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.

3 I, like Gideon's fleece, am found
Unwatered still, and dry,
While the dew on all around
Falls plenteous from the sky;
Yet my Lord I cannot blame,
The Saviour's grace for all is free;
I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.

4 Surely he will lift me up,
For I of him have need,
I cannot give up my hope,
Though I am cold and dead;
To bring fire on earth he came,
O that it now might kindled be!
I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.

5 Jesus, thou for me hast died,
And thou in me shalt live,
I shall feel thy death applied,
I shall thy life receive;
Yet, when melted in the flame
Of love, this shall be all my plea,
I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.

http://www.invubu.com/lyrics/show/Charles_Wesley/Let_The_World_Their_Virtue_Boast.html


1 FATHER of Jesus Christ, my Lord,
I humbly seek thy face,
Encouraged by the Saviour's word
To ask thy pardoning grace.

2 Entering into into my closet, I
The busy world exclude,
In secret prayer for mercy cry,
And groan to he renewed.

3 Far from the paths of men, to thee
I solemnly retire;
See, thou who dost in secret see,
And grant my heart's desire.

4 Thy grace I languish to receive,
The Spirit of love and power,
Blameless before thy face to live,
To live and sin no more.

5 Fain would I all thy goodness feel,
And know my sins forgiven,
And do on earth thy perfect will
As angels do in heaven.

6 O Father, glorify thy Son,
And grant what I require;
For Jesu's sake the gift send down,
And answer me by fire.

7 Kindle the flame of love within,
Which may to heaven ascend,
And now the work of grace begin,
Which shall in glory end.

http://www.ccel.org/w/wesley/hymn/jwg01/jwg0119.html

Two of Wesley's Hymns (mentioning Perfection)

How can a sinner know
His sins on earth forgiven?
How can my Saviour show
My name inscribed in Heaven?
What we ourselves have felt, and seen,
With confidence we tell,
And publish to the sons of men
The signs infallible.

We who in Christ believe
That He for us hath died,
His unknown peace receive,
And feel His blood applied:
Exults for joy our rising soul,
Disburdened of her load,
And swells, unutterably full
Of glory, and of God.

His love, surpassing far
The love of all beneath,
We find within, and dare
The pointless darts of death:
Stronger than death, or sin, or hell,
The mystic power we prove,
And conquerors of the world we dwell
In Heaven, who dwell in love.

The pledge of future bliss
He now to us imparts,
His gracious Spirit is
The earnest in our hearts:
We antedate the joys above,
We taste the’ eternal powers,
And know that all those heights of love,
And all those heavens are ours.

Till He our life reveal,
We rest in Christ secure:
His Spirit is the seal,
Which made our pardon sure:
Our sins His blood hath blotted out,
And signed our soul’s release:
And can we of His favour doubt,
Whose blood declares us His?

We by His Spirit prove
And know the things of God,
The things which of His love
He hath on us bestowed:
Our God to us His Spirit gave,
And dwells in us, we know,
The witness in ourselves we have,
And all His fruits we show.

The meek and lowly heart
Which in our Saviour was,
He doth to us impart,
And signs us with His cross:
Our nature’s course is turned, our mind
Transformed in all its powers,
And both the witnesses are joined,
The Spirit of God with ours.

Whate’er our pardoning Lord
Commands, we gladly do,
And guided by His Word
We all His steps pursue:
His glory is our sole design,
We live our God to please,
And rise with filial fear divine
To perfect holiness.

Found here: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/o/w/howcansk.htm

THE Spirit of the Lord our God
(Spirit of Power, and Health, and Love)
The Father hath on Christ bestowed,
And sent him from his throne above;

Prophet, and Priest, and King of peace,
Anointed to declare his will,
To minister his pardoning grace,
And every sin-sick soul to heal.

Sinners, obey the heavenly call;
Your prison-doors stand open wide;
Go forth, for he hath ransomed all,
For every soul of man hath died.

'Tis his the drooping soul to raise,
To rescue all by sin opprest,
To clothe them with the robes of praise,
And give their weary spirits rest;

To help their grovelling unbelief,
Beauty for ashes to confer,
The oil of joy for abject grief,
Triumphant joy for sad despair;

To make them trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord below,
To spread the honour of his grace,
And on to full perfection grow.

found here:

http://www.invubu.com/lyrics/show/Charles_Wesley/The_Spirit_Of_The_Lord_Our_God.html

Selected quotes. Challenge and Encouragement

"You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.
God has called you to a higher standard. 
Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest; your best for His glory."

"The honour of Jesus Christ is at stake in your bodily life."
                                                                      (Oswald Chambers)

"May this day be a day of power with me as to some noble effort for the glory of God and the good of my fellowmen! I am wholly at Thy disposal; willing, yea, eager to be used of Thee for Thy holy purposes."

"Let us not fear any danger, for He is mighty to save!"

"This day let us just stow ourselves away in our hiding place and sit and sing under the protection of our Covert. Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus! How we love Thee! Well we may, for Thou art to us a shelter in the time of storm."

"Let us this day run to Him and be at peace."

"Our Lord Jesus, the glorious man, is a covert which is never blown down. In Him we mark the tempest sweeping by, but we ourselves rest in delightful serenity."
                                           (Charles Spurgeon's Checkbook of Faith)

"Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: My God will hear me.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I shall arise; 
When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me." Micah 7:7-8.

I hope you find these as encouraging and challenging as I have this past week.

John Wesley's Hymns

Today I started reading through "Wesley's Hymns" and came across some really beautiful lines.

"I bid you all my goodness prove: My promises for all are free:
Come, taste the manna of my love, and let your souls delight in Me"

"Thy faithfulness, Lord, each moment we find, so true to Thy word, so loving and kind,
Thy mercy so tender to all the lost race, the vilest offender may turn and find grace."

"Ye all may find favour, who come at His call.
O come to my Saviour, His Grace is for all."

"He offers you pardon; He bids you be free: If sin be your burden, O come unto Me."

"To us, at thy feet, The Comforter give,
who gasp to admit Thy Spirit and live;
The weakest believers acknowledge for thine,
and fill us with rivers of water divine!"

"There we shall see his face, and never, never sin;
There, from the rivers of His grace, drink endless pleasures in:
Yea, and before we rise to that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss
Should constant joys create."

Quote from today's "My Utmost for His Highest"

"Never allow anything to come between yourself and Jesus Christ, no emotion, or experience; nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source."
Oswald Chambers

HEBRON | For Such A Time As This (Track Samples) and Great prayer from Spurgeon

I don't know if you've come across this group, but I really love this cd.

Hope you enjoy it too!

"The LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17.
"Oh for faith to take hold upon the short but sweet text for today! O LORD, fulfil this word to Thy servant!
Be with me in the house, in the street, in the field, in the shop, in company, and alone. Be Thou also with all Thy people." (Spurgeon's Checkbook of Faith)

Amen!!

A couple of quotes

"The Word of God is perfect; it is precious and pure; it is truth itself."
     Martin Luther

"My soul, keep thou close to Jesus, follow on to know God in Jesus, and so shalt thou come to the knowledge of Christ, which is the most excellent of all the sciences. The Holy Ghost will lead thee into all truth. Is not this His gracious promise? Rely upon Him to fulfil it."
      Charles Spurgeon