Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Some would have us believe
that it is within the power of men to awaken men dead in trespasses
and sins and cause them to see by preaching the gospel. The
purpose of the preaching of the gospel is information, not revelation. Until and unless the Holy Ghost
directly awakens the dead, they cannot hear the glorious gospel,
which is the very words of life to those who have been awakened.
It is necessary for the Spirit to shine in a man's heart with
that bright light of conviction before that man will ever desire
to embrace the light of the gospel. It is also necessary that he,
the Spirit of truth, reveal the spiritual truth of the spoken
word or else men cannot receive it. When there was no light,
God spoke and said, Let there be light. And there was light.
In the same fashion, He directly causes the light to shine into
the hearts of His elect sons at the appointed time. Nothing
can hasten that time, and nothing can delay it. Vain are the attempts
of men to cause this light to shine, and empty are the warnings
of those who would have us to believe that some of the elect
may be lost without our aid. Nonetheless, it is a glorious
privilege to be given the task of preaching the unsearchable
riches of Christ to those whom he has awakened with his light.
The Lord Jesus spoke of his fulfillment of prophecy when he quoted Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
That prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, and He has sent forth
laborers into the harvest with the same message of deliverance
to those whom He has called and awakened. And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things. The primary purpose in the preaching
of the gospel is to bring glory to God in the publication of
the redemption which he has purchased for his elect sons. Preachers
are publishers of truth, proclaimers of good news, a welcome relief
for weary seekers who know themselves to be needy, weak, and thirsty.
Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he
that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine
and milk without money and without price. The only gospel which
can be of use to a sinner is one which first of all magnifies
the Savior. Our Lord said, And I, if I be
lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. He spoke
primarily of the fact that His crucifixion would be that to
which a sinner would be drawn. He is mighty to save, rather
than being, as he is touted in modern-day preaching, as one
who is trying to save, if men will only let him. He is the
Savior of sinners. He has accomplished the salvation
of everyone whose redemption he intended to purchase. Not
one of those for whom Christ shed his precious blood shall
ever perish. The only gospel which can be
of use to a sinner is one which rejoices in his finished work.
There is nothing left for sinners to do to be made acceptable in
the eyes of God. He has finished the work which
he came to do. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God
is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Most modern-day preaching tries to persuade folks to do something,
whether it be to believe, repent, or be obedient. The preaching
of the true gospel is that which informs weary pilgrims and seekers
that Jesus Christ has accomplished their redemption once and for
all. They believe it because He has shined in their hearts
to give them light. The only gospel which can be
of use to a sinner is one which lights the path he is to tread. The Lord Jesus said, Come unto
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek
and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The
Lord leads us in the way He has already trod. He is our captain
and our provider. For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The only gospel which can be of use to a sinner is one which
gives him joy in the journey. That the trial of your faith
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not
seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. For
a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net