A Warning to Not Skip Church, or Something More? (Hebrews 10)

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The True Prosperity Gospel - Paul Washer

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COMMUNION

By Arthur W. Pink

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."—1 Peter 5:7

This means just what it says. Christian reader, there ought to be no restraint between you and the Lover of your soul. He would have you be on, and maintain, more intimate terms with Himself, than with any human creature. He is always accessible, and never changes in His feelings toward you. He would have you make Him your "Friend": not only your Counselor, but your Confident—the One into whose ear (and the only one) you are to pour the very secrets of your heart. He would have you be quite artless and natural, just like a little child coming to its mother, pouring into her ear its every little woe, trouble, and disappointment. When harassed by any soul-troubles, such as a feeling of coldness of heart toward Him, burdened about a lack of faith, or because your thoughts so often wander when you try to meditate on Divine things, or in prayers;—come to Him, tell Him all about it, unburden yourself to Him: cast "all your care upon Him," keep back nothing.

When something has irritated you, disturbed your composure of mind and peace of soul; when someone has said or done something which causes a resentment to rise within you, and you find it hard to forgive them; go and tell the Lord about it: confess to Him that this ought not to be, that you are ashamed of yourself, and ask Him to lay His calming hand upon you, and to give you a forgiving spirit. Or suppose something in the household arrangements has "gone wrong," something which you could not help: perhaps the milkman or the baker late, or the stove not cooking as you wish, and you are disturbed; go to Him, tell Him about it; cast this "care" upon Him. You can never "weary" the Lord.

It is the Christian's holy privilege to cultivate the most familiar converse with Christ. Nothing more honors Him; nothing more delights Him, for this is giving Him His true place in your daily life. The "Christian life" is not the vague and mystical thing which the unsaved deem it to be, and which some preachers have made people think it is. No, it is an intensely practical and blessed thing. It is pride (quite unsuspected) which hinders so many from maintaining this simple and childlike converse and communion with Christ. People are ready to call upon Him when some big thing (as they think it) confronts them, some really urgent need comes up; but the little (?) things they seek to carry and work out themselves. But God's Word says, "In everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).

Above, we have said that it is "pride" which keeps back the Christian from casting all (every) his care upon Christ from casting all (every) his care upon Christ. The proof of this is intimated in the verse immediately preceding (1 Peter 5:7): for there we read, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." It is an humbling thing to our haughty flesh, our self sufficiency, our proud reason, to be made to feel the truth of Christ's words "without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)- -acceptably to God. But it is a blessed thing for the heart when we are brought to the place of complete conscious dependency upon the Lord for everything. That is the place of rest, joy, victory. May the Lord be pleased to add His blessing to these few lines.

May we take heed to the words of A. W. Pink. We are living in a day when our communion with God is so vitally important. Let us not allow our pride to keep us from the sweet communion of his presence which we can have on a daily basis.

Bro. Pat

Communion with God

“I in them.” - John 17:23

C. H. Spurgeon

If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father’s house; but see his kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more, he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts, that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for he is thy Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh.

How is your communion with God? Is your heart continually warmed by the fire of communion with the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost? We are living in the last days and it is imperative that we daily seek the communion that will sustain us during these difficult times. Are we continually taking up the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we faithful to spend time alone with our God in prayer and the study of His word? Are we seeking every opportunity to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord? May the Lord Jesus Christ give us strength as we have daily communion with Him!

2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Bro. Pat