Monday 9 September 2013

Wise Words from Whitefield

These words from the conclusion of one of Rev. George Whitefield's sermons is given here for your encouragement. The call is to follow Christ fully, or wholeheartedly, as Caleb of old did. There is no one better to follow than He. Give your heart and life to Him, and He will be with you forever. Meet with Him frequently in prayer and in the Gospel. You are on the victory side, remember. Our Saviour has trodden down every opposition to us, and all we have to face in this world are the mere dregs of Satanic attack. That does not mean that we will not know suffering for Christ's sake. Those who stand close to Christ when the world's brick-bats start flying are very likely to get hit. But let us not be afraid. His promises to us are "Yea and Amen." Not only has He bruised Satan's head, so will you and I.
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Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort, if we faint not. Dare, dare, my dear brethren in Christ, to follow the Captain of your salvation, who was made perfect through sufferings. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Fear not men. Be not too much cast down at the deceitfulness of your hearts. Fear not devils; you shall get the victory even over them. The Lord Jesus has engaged to make you more than conquerors over all. Plead with you Savior, plead: plead the promise in the tent. Wrestle, wrestle with God in prayer.

If it has been given you to believe, fear not if it should also be given you to suffer. Be not any wise terrified by your adversaries; the king of the church has them all in a chain: be kind to them, pray for them; but fear them not. The Lord will yet bring back his ark; though at present driven into the wilderness; and Satan like lightening shall fall from heaven.

Are there any enemies of God here? The promise of the text encourages me to bid you defiance: the seed of the woman, the ever-blessed Jesus, shall bruise the serpent’s head. What signifies all your malice? You are only raging waves of the sea, foaming out your own shame. For you, without repentance, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. The Lord Jesus sits in heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children’s good: he laughs you to scorn: he hath you in the utmost derision, and therefore so will I. Who are you that persecute the children of the ever blessed God? Though a poor stripling, the Lord Jesus, the seed of the woman, will enable me to bruise your heads.