The Lord’s Day Alliance was organized fifty-three years ago in order to bring before the people of America the importance of preserving the Lord’s day against the encroachments of those who are seeking to turn our Christian Sunday into a continental Sabbath, as they call it—one which would be spent in pleasure and folly. I am very glad to agree to co-operate with the society by speaking this evening on “The Lord’s Day, Its Privileges and Responsibilities.” I will ask you to turn with me to three passages of Scripture, not exactly as texts, but by way of introducing the …
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” —Luke 2:7 Doubtless there seemed to be very good reasons, at least in the minds of the innkeeper, why it was impossible to entertain Joseph and Mary when they came to Bethlehem to be taxed. There must have been many other Bethlehemites who had hastened thither in order that they too might be properly enrolled. Probably many of these were much better able to pay for accommodations than the Nazareth carpenter …
Psalm 38 might be designated “The Penitent’s Plea.” It is the cry of a man who is distressed and broken hearted because of his sin and who comes to God acknowledging his guilt and looking to Him for forgiveness.
Over the first four verses we might write the word “Conviction.” We have the expression here of a convicted soul, of a man who is not trying to make excuses for his sins. As long as you find a person endeavoring to excuse his sins and failures, you will know that the plowshare of conviction has never gone in deep enough. …
“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”—Isaiah 50:10-11
These words come to us at the conclusion of a wonderful presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ as seen through prophetic …
The great supper of Luke 14 speaks of what God has prepared for sinners and it is to such the invitation goes out, “Come for all things are now ready.” Where then, will God find His guests? How our heart rejoices and the soul bows in adoration and praise as we think of the grace of God which goes out to the despised man of the street, or the destitute inhabitant of the lanes, or any wretched child of poverty who has been driven by sheer necessity to take shelter wherever found. “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes …
In this series of Psalms the holiness of God in grace and in judgment is specially emphasized. That is something I think we should all understand clearly. Everything that God does or everything that He permits is in accordance with His own holy nature. God will not allow anything either in the way of grace to sinners or in the way of trial to His people or in the way of judgment falling upon the ungodly that is contrary to the holiness of His nature. Only today somebody said to me, “I do not believe in the God of the …
“When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an ax against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to emply them in the siege. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down: and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.”—Deuteronomy 20:19–20
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: …
The last Psalm of this second series of five is the 34th and again we find that it links with the one that went before. This previous Psalm has been calling people to worship, to praise Him and the last two verses say, “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” And immediately the soul speaks in the next Psalm, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Notice, this 34th …
Written in honor of Dr. Ironside’s tenth anniversary as Pastor of The Moody Church.
We fully appreciate the problems which confront us when we attempt to write at least a portion of the life story of one who is still living and actively engaged in the ministry to which God has called him. On the other hand, because there is so much of real value in the life and ministry of this devoted servant of Christ that will be a source of real inspiration to multitudes, it is without apology that we pen these lines. When approached and urged to …
