Scripture at Sunrise 1.8.2019

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” -Matthew 5:8

Purity, even purity of heart, is the main thing to be aimed at. We need to be made clean within through the Spirit and the Word, and then we shall be clean without by consecration and obedience. There is a close connection between the affections and the understanding: if we love evil we cannot understand that which is good. If the heart is foul, the eye will be dim. How can those men see a holy God who love unholy things?

What a privilege it is to see God here! A glimpse of Him is heaven below! In Christ Jesus the pure in heart behold the Father. We see Him, His truth, His love, His purpose, His sovereignty, His covenant character, yea, we see Himself in Christ. But this is only apprehended as sin is kept out of the heart. Only those who aim at godliness can cry, “Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord.” The desire of Moses, “I beseech thee, show me thy glory,” can only be fulfilled in us as we purify ourselves from all iniquity. We shall “see him as he is,” and “every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself.” The enjoyment of present fellowship and the hope of the beatific vision are urgent motives for purity of heart and life. Lord, make us pure in heart that we may see Thee!

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Scripture at Sunrise 10.30.2018

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” -Ezekiel 36:25

What an exceeding joy is this! He who has purified us with the blood of Jesus will also cleanse us by the water of the Holy Spirit. God hath said it, and so it must be, “Ye shall be clean.” Lord, we feel and mourn our uncleanness, and it is cheering to be assured by Thine own mouth that we shall be clean. Oh, that Thou wouldst make a speedy work of it!

He will deliver us from our worst sins. The uprisings of unbelief and the deceitful lusts which war against the soul, the vile thoughts of pride, and the suggestions of Satan to blaspheme the sacred name-all these shall be so purged away as never to return.

He will also cleanse us from all our idols, whether of gold or of clay: our impure loves and our excessive love of that which in itself is pure. That which we have idolized shall either be broken from us or we shall be broken off from it.

It is God who speaks of what He Himself will do. Therefore is this word established and sure, and we may boldly look for that which it guarantees to us. Cleansing is a covenant blessing, and the covenant is ordered in all things and sure.

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Scripture at Sunrise 7.11.2018

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9

Every day grace gets its hands dirty, so that day by day our hearts would become clean. -Paul Tripp via Twitter

Scripture at Sunrise 10.30.2012

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. -Ezekiel 36:25

What an exceeding joy is this! He who has purified us with the blood of Jesus will also cleanse us by the water of the Holy Spirit. God hath said it, and so it must be, “Ye shall be clean.” Lord, we feel and mourn our uncleanness, and it is cheering to be assured by Thine own mouth that we shall be clean. Oh, that Thou wouldst make a speedy work of it!

He will deliver us from our worst sins. The uprisings of unbelief and the deceitful lusts which war against the soul, the vile thoughts of pride, and the suggestions of Satan to blaspheme the sacred name-all these shall be so purged away as never to return.

He will also cleanse us from all our idols, whether of gold or of clay: our impure loves and our excessive love of that which in itself is pure. That which we have idolized shall either be broken from us or we shall be broken off from it.

It is God who speaks of what He Himself will do. Therefore is this word established and sure, and we may boldly look for that which it guarantees to us. Cleansing is a covenant blessing, and the covenant is ordered in all things and sure.

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Scripture at Sunrise 11.8.2010

Sunday Morning | Luke 7:36-50 | Bro. Mark Gordon, New Zealand
All lives outside of Jesus Christ are tragic.  It’s tragic when one loves being good, but never realizes they are not good.  The prostitute (rather than the religious man) in this story teaches us that the tragic life can become beautiful.

1)She recognized in herself something hopeless.  (vs. 40-43)  She understood she had a massive debt she could not pay.  All of us have a sign around our necks saying, “Unable to pay.”  For many people, Jesus is not special because they don’t realize they need a Savior.

2)She recognized in Jesus Christ something uniquely hopeful.  (vs. 36-38)

3)She experienced the very real power of forgiveness.  (vs. 47)  We’ve all gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), but we’re accepted because of Christ (Romans 5:8).

4)She demonstrated the reality of her salvation by her love.  (vs. 50) Her works did not save her.  They demonstrated the faith that had saved her.

5)She could now walk in peace despite her past or her present obstacles.  (vs. 50)

Sunday Evening | Numbers 19:1-22 | Pastor Steve Wainright
People are constantly redefining the word “dirt,” just as people are constantly redefining the world “sin,” making it what they want it to be, but we have to go by God’s definition.  (Matthew 15:11, James 1:14-15)

The purpose of the sacrifice of the red heifer was to cleanse those who had touched the dead, intentionally or unintentionally.  God provided a way for His people to be clean.  In our case, we’re declared clean in Christ, but we need to be cleansed daily from the everyday dirt of the world.  (John 13:8-11, 1 John 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:26)  We have a relationship, but we have to maintain the fellowship.  Therefore, make it a daily habit to examine yourself and confess your sin so you can maintain sweet fellowship with God.

Scripture at Sunrise 11.20.09

“Christ Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  -Romans 8:34

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

[Words by Charles Wes­ley; Music by Lew­is Ed­son]

Scripture at Sunrise 5.21.09

“…that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  -Ephesians 3:16-19

Live in the peace of knowing that God has accepted you.
Live in the confidence of knowing that Christ’s blood makes you clean.
Live in the joy of knowing you are forgiven.
Live in the assurance of knowing that He is holding your hand.
Live in the hope of knowing that your future is with Jesus.

His majesty is your worship,
His holiness is your beauty,
His presence is your fragrance,
His truth is your foundation,
His tenderness is your comfort,
His abundance is your supply,
His plan is your purpose,
His faithfulness is your security,
His life is your fulfillment,
His strength is your endurance,
His heart is your home.

[by Roy Lessin, co-founder of DaySpring]

Scripture @ Sunrise 1.28.09

Snow & Ice…has Isaiah 1:18 entered your mind? 
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.”  -Isaiah 1:18

Before all this messy weather came through (but isn’t it pretty?!), I was sitting in my car Sunday night before my flute lesson as snow was quickly falling.  I couldn’t help but think of that verse and how my nasty, dirty sins were washed as WHITE as the snow that was falling!  Oh, I was excited!  Do you ever have one of those moments?!  And to top it all off, I was listening to There is a Fountain from my T4G CD.  Wow…it was heavenly! 

Then, comes Tuesday.  My phone rang at 5:55 a.m. with a recorded message telling me I had to go to class at 11 a.m.  Thanks, people.  So I slid to class.  Not once.  Twice.  Of course, the only classes that were mandantory yesterday were the times that I had class.  But, to be honest, I really kind of had fun out there sliding around, pretending to be Kristi Yamaguchi doing triple axels outside the Journalism Building. 

So, my dear siblings in Christ, I leave you with a slideshow of Wainrights’ Icecapades 2009: Day 1. 

I realize many of you are without power.  Oh my goodness, how I wish you were at my house right now.  I want to show you hospitality.  I don’t know if it would be worth risking life and limb to get here, but just remember you’re always welcome.  :o)

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more about “Icecapades 2009: Day 1“, posted with vodpod