𝙱.𝙰. 𝙿𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚕𝚎

J.I. Packer (1926-2020) “Live slowly enough to be able to think deeply about God.”

The more a Christian matures, the more deeply is he aware of his need for Christ.

Acts 12.1-5- -Herod persecutes the church -Herod kills James with the sword -It pleases the Jewish leaders -He arrests Peter and imprisons him A harrowing string of events. ". . . but earnest prayer for him [Peter] was made to God by the church." Now that changes things.

The faithful Jews rejoiced to think of the calling of the Gentiles; and why should not we joy to think of the calling of the Jews? —Puritan Richard Sibbes, Works 1:99

"The Bible doesn't give superfluous counsel. It gives urgent counsel." -John Piper

True.

You can’t explain the phenomenon of anti-Semitism without acknowledging Divine covenants, human depravity, and the activity of the powers of darkness.

Isaiah 2:17-18 — “The haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away.” Amen. A day so to be desired. Hasten it, LORD.

Adolph Saphir (1831-1891) - "Forms of godliness, types of doctrine, are apt to become substitutes instead of channels, weights instead of wings. Here is the most subtle danger of idolatry. Doctrines and systems of doctrine are like portraits more or less faithful and vivid of a…

There are 41 imperatives in Ephesians. 40 of them are found in chapters 4-6. Paul loved to ground the saints in Gospel indicatives and to let the commands flow from the fountain which is Christ. We should do the same, with our own souls, and with those we're discipling.

Apply whatever prism, lens, or system you will. There is no getting around the fact that God has a sovereign & good plan for the people & land of Israel. This will be abundantly clear when "He plants His feet on the mount of olives." We do well to understand this before He comes.

You believe in the sovereignty of God in the situation of the nations historically & presently. Very well. So do I. But why do many of you apply this to every nation besides Israel? Why act like functional naturalists when it comes to the Jews, whom Scripture addresses most?

To the supersessionist who minimizes the importance of Israel - Have you ever considered that the long history of controversy surrounding Jerusalem and the Jews has something to do with God's sovereign purposes, and the deviant schemes of the powers of darkness against Him?

“. . . sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. . .” This is the steady-state disposition of all pastors and apostolic church-planters who aren’t mere hirelings, but actually carry a fatherly, godly concern for the churches among whom they labor. (Mt. 9.36; 2 Cor. 6.10, 11.28)

Why does the average pastorate in America last less than 5 years? Many reasons. But one of the primary issues is that churches have disregarded Paul's command by laying hands on men and appointing them hastily, long before they were qualified for the work. (see 1 Tim. 5.22)

Psalm 122.6 - "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you."

Don't merely go through the Scriptures. Resist the common proclivity to the frivolity of hurried reading. Linger prayerfully in the Bible's majestic clauses, imperatives, and promises, and let the Word go through you. As the apostle commanded, let it "dwell in you richly."

The apostle Peter (Acts 10.42-43): "[Jesus of Nazareth] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living & the dead. To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name." LORD of all. Lamb of God. Behold Him.

Nothing is a better and more accessible means of calibrating us to reality than the daily, prayerful study of holy Scripture.

A life lived selfishly— a life apart from grace— is a life aimed at immediate gratification. It cannot and will not satisfy you. In fact it will damn you. A life lived selflessly— a life transformed by grace— is a life aimed at knowing/trusting/pleasing God, bearing…