INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
HAGGAI - CHAPTER 1
"There is an aptness in us to misinterpret providential discouragements in our duty, as if they amounted to a discharge from our duty, when they are only intended for the trial & exercise of our courage & faith." "They neglected the building of God's house, & put that off, that they might have time & money for their secular affairs." "Meat for the belly is meat that perishes, &, if we labour for that only, we are in danger of losing our labour; but we are sure our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord if we labour for the meat which endures to eternal life." "Those that lay up their treasure on earth put it into a bag with holes; they lose it as they go along, & those that come after them pick it up. But, if we lay up our treasure in heaven, we provide for ourselves bags that wax not old, Luke 12:33." "Those are very much strangers to their own interest who prefer the conveniences & ornaments of the temporal life before the absolute necessities of the spiritual life, who are full of care to enrich their own houses, while God's temple in their hearts lies waste, & nothing is done for it or in it." "Our considering our ways must issue in the amending of whatever we find amiss in them." "It ought to be the top of our ambition to be accepted of the Lord, II Corinthians 5:9." "It is worth while to bestow all possible care, & pains, & cost, upon that by which God may be glorified." "A holy fear of God will have a great influence upon our obedience to him. Serve the Lord with fear; if we fear him not, we shall not serve him." "When God has work to do, he will either find or make men fit to do it, & stir them up to it." "Those that have lost time have need to redeem time; & the longer we have loitered in that which is good the more haste we should make when we are convinced of our folly." "Those that work for God have God with them; &, if he be for us, who can be against us? If he be with us, what difficulty can stand before us?" CHAPTER 2 "Those that are hearty in the service of God shall receive fresh encouragements from him to proceed in it, as their case call for them. Set the wheels a going, & God will oil them." "The presence of God with us, as the Lord of hosts, is enough to silence all our fears & to help us over all the discouragements we may meet with in the way of our duty." "We have reason to be encouraged as long as we have the Spirit of God remaining among us to work upon us, for so long we have God with us to work for us." "The shaking of the nations is often in order to the settling of the church & the establishing of the things that cannot be shaken." "If we have silver & gold, we must serve & honour God with them, for they are all his own, we have but the use of them." "...where Christ is, behold a greater than Solomon is there, so the heart in which he dwells, & makes a living temple, behold it is more glorious than Solomon's temple, & will be so to eternity." "If God be with us, peace is with us." "There are many ways of vice, but only one of virtue" "Let not men think that living among good people will recommend them to God if they are not good themselves, but let them fear that touching the unclean thing will defile them, & therefore let them keep at a distance from it." "If their hearts be right with God, & their eye single in his service, they shall have the benefit of their devotion." "In the stores & treasures of the new covenant we need not fear being disappointed when we come by faith to draw from them." "While we take no care of God's interest, we cannot expect he should take care of ours." "...if the earth be shaken, it is to shake the wicked out of it" "Our Lord Jesus is the signet on God's right hand, for all power is given to him & derived from him. By him the great charter of the gospel is signed & ratified, & it is in him that all the promises of God are yea & amen." ZECHARIAH - CHAPTER 1 "...Zechariah's ministry. Before he came to visions & revelations, & delivered his prophetic discourses, he preached that which was plain & practical; for it is best to begin with that. Before he published the promises of mercy, he published calls to repentance" "The judgments of God, which those that went before us were under, should be taken as warnings to us not to tread in their steps, & calls to repentance, that we may cut off the entail of the curse & get it turned into a blessing." "The consideration of God's almighty power & sovereign dominion should both engage & encourage sinners to repent & turn to him. It is very desirable to have the Lord of hosts our friend & very dreadful to have him our enemy." "Be persuaded to leave your sins; resolve to have no more to do with them. A speedy reformation is the only way to prevent an approaching ruin: Turn you now from sin to God without delay." "The unbelief of man cannot make the threatenings of God's word of no effect, but, sooner or later, they will take place, if the prescribed course be not taken to prevent the execution of them." "The King of the church has angels at command, not only to do him honour, but to minister for the good of those that are his." "Jesus Christ is ready to instruct those that are humbly desirous to be taught the things of God." "It is sad to think what a deep sleep the world is cast into, what a spirit of slumber has seized the generality of mankind, that are under God's wrath & Satan's power, & yet secure & unconcerned!" "Men's good words will not feed the body (James 2:16), but God's good words will feed the faith, for saying & doing with him are not 2 things, though they are with us." "It is good news indeed to any place to hear that God will build his house in it." "It is the comfort & triumph of the church that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, with mighty force & fury, then the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." "God calls those to serve the interests of his church whom he either finds, or makes fit for it." "Which way soever the church is threatened with mischief, & opposition given to its interests, God can find out ways & means to check the force, to restrain the wrath, & make it turn to his praise." "When God has work to do he will raise up some to do it & others to defend it & protect those that are employed in the doing of it." CHAPTER 2 "The comfortable sights which by faith we have had of God's goodness made to pass before us should engage us to lift up our eyes again, & to search further into the discoveries made to us of the divine grace; for there is still more to be seen." "The increase of the numbers of a people is a great blessing, is a fruit of God's blessing on them & an earnest of further blessings." "God will not only make a wall of fire about her, but he will himself be such a wall; for our God is a consuming fire to his & his church's enemies." "Those that have God for their God have him for their glory; those that have him in the midst of them have glory in the midst of them." "And those persons & places that have God to be the glory in the midst of them have him for a wall of fire round about them" "The promises & privileges with which God's people are blessed should engage us, whatever it cost us, to join ourselves to them & cast in our lot among them." "...the gospel-church. Christ will reckon with all that are enemies to it, & sooner or later will make them his footstool. Psalms 110:1; Revelation 3:9. What he will do for his church shall be an evident proof of God's tender care of it & affection to it: He that touches you touches the apple of his eye." "Those that have recovered their purity, & integrity, & spiritual liberty, though they have not recovered their outward prosperity, have reason to sing & rejoice, to give glory to God & take comfort to themselves." "God will own those for his people who with purpose of heart join themselves to him" "Those to whom God comes have reason to rejoice, for he will be to them their chief joy." "Be silent, O all flesh! before the Lord - before Christ & his grace (let not flesh object against the methods he takes) - before God & his providence; the enemies of the church shall be silenced; all iniquity shall stop her mouth." "Leave it to God to take his own way, & neither prescribe to him what he should do nor quarrel with him whatever he does. Be still, & know that he is God. Stand still, & see his salvation" "Silently acquiesce in his holy will, & patiently wait the issue, as those who assured that when God is raised up out of his holy habitation he will not retreat, nor sit down again, till he has accomplished his whole work." Matthew Henry's Commentary: Isaiah to Malachi, Mac Donald, pgs. 1388 - 1412.
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HABAKKUK - CHAPTER 3
"Because God has inclined his ear to us, we must resolve that therefore we will call upon him as long as we live." "Those that would rightly order their speech to God must carefully observe, & lay before them, his speech to them." "Whatever becomes of us, though we be as dead & dry bones, Lord, let thy work be revived" "Even those that are under the tokens of God's wrath must not despair of his mercy; & mercy, mere mercy, is that which we must flee to for refuge, & rely upon as our only plea." "His ways are everlasting, that is, all the motions of his providence are according to his eternal counsels; & he is the same for ever, that which he was yesterday & to-day. His covenant is unchangeable, & his mercy endures for ever." "The God of nature can alter & control the powers of nature, which way he pleases, can turn waters into crystal rocks & rocks into crystal streams." "The heavenly bodies, as well as earth & seas, are at God's command" "All the powers of nature are shaken, & the course of nature changed, & every thing seems to be thrown into disorder, & all is for the salvation of God's people. There are a people in the world who are God's people, & their salvation is that which he has in his eye in all the operations of his providence." "In heaven there shall be no more trembling, but everlasting triumphs." "Good hope through grace is founded in a holy fear." "When we are in the full enjoyment of our creature comforts we should consider that there may come a time when we shall be stripped of them all, & use them accordingly, as not abusing them" "This is the principal ground of our joy in God, that he is the God of our salvation, our eternal salvation, the salvation of the soul; &, if he be so, we may rejoice in him as such in our greatest distresses, since by them our salvation cannot be hindered, but may be furthered." "Joy in God is never out of season..." "The Lord God is my strength, v. 19." "We shall be swift for our spiritual race: 'He will make my feet like hinds' feet, that with enlargement of heart I may run the way of his commands & outrun my troubles.'" "He that is afflicted, & has prayed aright, may then be so easy, may then be so merry, as to sing psalms." ZEPHANIAH - CHAPTER 1 "What good can the best reformers do with a people that hate to be reformed, as if they longed to be ruined?" "Those that will not humble themselves under God's mighty hand shall be humbled & brought down by it." "...God will let them know that he is a jealous God, & will not endure any rival." "Those that think to divide their affections & adorations between God & idols will not only come short of acceptance with God, but will have their doom with the worst of idolaters; for what communion can there be between light & darkness, Christ & Belial, God & mammon?" "Men have their day now, when they take a liberty to do what they please; but God's day is at hand" "God's hand will find out his enemies, wherever they lie hid" "All the excuses of their sin, & exceptions against the sentence, will be over-ruled, & they shall not have a word to say for themselves." "It is madness for those to slumber whose damnation slumbers not" "Those that walk as bad men will justly be left to walk as blind men, always in the dark, in doubt & danger, without any guide or comfort, & falling at length into the ditch. Because they have sinned against the Lord he will deliver them into the hands of cruel enemies, that shall pour out their blood as dust, so profusely, & with as little regret, & their flesh shall be thrown as dung upon the dunghill." "Riches profit not in the day of wrath, Proverbs 11:4." "Let not sinners be laid asleep by the patience of God, for when the measure of their iniquity is full his justice will both overtake & overcome, will make quick work & thorough work." CHAPTER 2 "...repentance, national repentance... the only way to prevent national ruin." "When God is contending with us it concerns us to enquire into ourselves." "It is the wisdom of those whom God has a controversy with to agree with him quickly, while they are in the way, before his fierce anger comes upon them, not to be turned away." "Seek you the Lord." "They must seek the Lord, seek his favour & grace, address him upon all occasions, ask of him what they need, seek him early, seek him diligently, & continue seeking him." "They must seek righteousness." "They must seek meekness." "In the difficult trying times approaching, the meek will find exercise for all the meekness they have" "Those that hold fast their integrity, in times of common iniquity, have reason to hope that God will find out a hiding-place for them, where they shall be safe & easy, in times of common calamity." "Those are really in a woeful condition that have the word of the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. Those that rebel against the precepts of God's word shall have the threatenings of the word against them." "God not only takes notice of, but interests himself in the reproaches cast on his people, because they are his; & it is certain that those who look with disdain upon the people of the Lord of hosts thereby dishonour the Lord of hosts himself." "Associates in iniquity may expect to be such in desolation." "Proud men sometimes, by the just judgment of God, fall under the mortification of being trampled upon themselves by those whom once they haughtily trampled upon. And this shall they have for their pride." CHAPTER 3 "...the holy God hates sin in those that are nearest to him, nay, in them he hates it most. A sinful state is, & will be, a woeful state." "Sin is the filthiness & pollution of persons & places, & makes them odious in the sight of the holy God." "The just Lord is in the midst of thee, to take cognizance of all thou doest amiss & give countenance to all thou doest well; he is in the midst of thee as a holy God, & therefore thy pollutions are the more offensive, Deuteronomy 23:14. He is in the midst of you as a just God, & therefore will punish the affronts you put upon him, & the wrongs & injuries you do to one another." "He had assured them of the continuance of their prosperity if they would fear him & receive instruction, for so their dwelling would not be cut off as their neighbour's was; if they took the warning given them, & reformed, what was past should be pardoned, & their tranquility lengthened out." "The end of those that continue to be of the earth, & to mind earthly things, after God has set up the kingdom of heaven among men, shall be destruction (Phil. 3:19); they shall be devoured with the fire of God's jealousy." "Prayer is the spiritual offering with which God must be honoured" "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable." "The guilt of sin being taken away by pardoning mercy, the reproach of it shall be rolled away from the sinner's own conscience, that being purified, & pacified, & cleansed from dead works." "...that haughtiness is the most offensive to God which is supported & fed by the pretensions of holiness. This God will silence & take away." "Those whom God designs for the glory of his name he enables to trust in his name; & the greater their affliction & poverty in the world are the more reason they see to trust in God, having nothing else to trust to, I Timothy 5:5." "What makes a people holy will make them happy of course." "Fear makes the hands slack, but faith & hope make them vigorous, & the joy of the Lord will be our strength both for doing & suffering." "God will give them the tokens of his presence with them; though he has long seemed to stand at a distance (they having provoked him to withdraw), he will make it to appear that he is with them of a truth. 'The Lord is in the midst of thee, O Zion!" "He will joy over them with singing. He that is grieved for the sin of sinners rejoices in the graces & services of the saints, & is ready to express that joy by singing over them. The Lord takes pleasure in those that fear him, & in them Jesus Christ will shortly be glorified & admired." "God will recover the captives out of the hands of their oppressors, & bring home the banished that seemed to be expelled" "Those that abuse & oppress God's people take the ready way to undo themselves." Matthew Henry's Commentary: Isaiah to Malachi, Mac Donald, pgs. 1365 - 1388. NAHUM - CHAPTER 2
"The Assyrians have been abusive to Jacob, the 2 tribes (have humbled & mortified them), as well as to Israel, the 10 tribes, have emptied them, & marred their vine-branches. For this God will reckon with them" "When the God of heaven goes forth to contend with a people, neither the palaces nor their kings, neither the temples nor their gods, can protect & shelter them, but must all inevitably fall with them." "God can dispirit the strongest & boldest, in the day of distress" "Guilt in the conscience will fill men with terror in an evil day, & those who place their happiness in the wealth of this world & set their hearts upon it think themselves undone when their silver, & their gold, & their pleasant furniture are taken from them." "...those that fear the Lord, & get what they have honestly, shall not want" Psalms 34:10 "The wealth they have heaped up by fraud & violence shall neither be enjoyed by them nor employed for them" CHAPTER 3 "Ninevah had with her cruelties been a terror & destruction to others, & therefore destruction & terror shall be brought upon her." "Those that showed no pity in the day of their power can expect to find no pity in the day of their fall." "The greater men's show was in the day of their abused prosperity the greater will their shame be in the day of their deserved destruction." "When proud sinners are humbled & brought down it is designed that others should take example by them not to lift up themselves in security & insolence when they prosper in the world." "Strongholds, even the strongest, are no fence against the judgments of God" "The judgment they are under is a wound, & it is incurable; there is no relief for it, 'no healing of thy bruise'" "Those that have been abusive to their neighbours will, one time or another, find it come home to them" HABAKKUK - CHAPTER 1 "It is sad to see bad men warming their hands at those flames which are devouring all that is good in a nation, & stirring up the fire too." "The abounding of wickedness in a nation is a very great eye-sore to good people" "When God's professing people quarrel among themselves, snarl at, & devour one another, it is just with God to bring the common enemy upon them, that shall make peace by making a universal devastation." "Those who have been unjust & unmerciful, among whom the law is slacked, & judgment doth not go forth, will justly be paid in their own coin & fall into the hands of those who will deal unjustly & unmercifully with them." "It is a great offence (& the common offence of proud people) to take that glory to ourselves, or to give it to gods of our own making, which is due to the living & true God only." "...a haughty spirit, lifted up against God, goes before a fall." "It is matter of great & continual comfort to God's people, under the troubles of this present life, that their God is from everlasting." "While the world stands God will have a church in it." "...for Christ ...He is the rock on which the church is so firmly built that the gates of hell shall not, cannot, prevail against it. We shall not die." "God's people need correction, & deserve it; they must expect it; they shall have it; when wicked men are let loose against them, it is not for their destruction, that they may be ruined, but for their correction, that they may be reformed; they are not intended for a sword, to cut them off, but for a rod, to drive out the foolishness that is found in their hearts" "There is a proneness in us to take the glory of our outward prosperity to ourselves, & to say, My might, & the power of my hands, have gotten me this wealth, Deuteronomy 8:17. This is idolizing ourselves" CHAPTER 2 "...God not only speaks to us by his word, but speaks in us by our own consciences, whispering to us, This is the way, walk in it; & we must attend to the voice of God in both." "Those that expect to hear from God must withdraw from the world... ...must raise their attention, fix their thought, study the scriptures... ...continue instant in prayer" "God... will not disappoint the believing expectations of his people that wait to hear what he will say unto them, but will speak peace, will answer them with good words & comfortable words, Zechariah 1:13." "God has an appointed time for his appointed work, & will be sure to do the work when the time comes; it is not for us to anticipate his appointments, but to wait his time." "The promise may seem silent a great while, but at the end it shall speak; & therefore, though it tarry longer than we expected, yet we must continue waiting for it" "Those who are truly good, & whose hearts are upright with God, will value the promise, & venture their all upon it" "If great men be proud men, the great God will make them know he is above them." "No more of what we have is to be reckoned ours than what we came honestly by; nor will it long be ours, for wealth gotten by vanity will be diminished." "The violence done by proud men to advance & enrich themselves will be called over again (& must be accounted for) another day, by him to whom vengeance belongs." "Covetousness is a very evil thing in a family; it bring disquiet & uneasiness into it" "Those that cut off, or undermine, others, to make room for themselves, that impoverish others to enrich themselves, do but consult shame to their houses, & fasten upon them a mark of infamy." "Theirs are dumb idols; ours is Jehovah, a living God, who is what he is, & not, as theirs, what men please to make him. He is in his holy temple in heaven, the residence of his glory, where we have access to him in the way, not which we have invented, but which he himself has instituted." "Be still & know that he is God, Zechariah 2:13." Matthew Henry's Commentary: Isaiah to Malachi, Mac Donald, pgs. 1344 - 1365. "GEORGE WASHINGTON
"He was a practical man. He was a visionary. He was persistent. He never led from the rear. He got his hands dirty whenever it was necessary. And he never quit, even in the midst of failure." "George Washington was born in a modest farmhouse in Westmoreland County Virginia, on February 22, 1732." "Washington grew up in this Puritan setting; a world slowly awakening to the inconsistences between the accepted ecclesiastical & political order & the truths rediscovered from the Reformation." "When Washington was 26, he met widower Martha Custis." "The couple had spend no more than 24 hours together before Washington proposed marriage. Within a year they were married." "'I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had 4 bullets through my coat, & 2 horses shot out under me, yet escaped unhurt, altho' death was levelling my companions on every side.'" "George Washington had all of the qualities of a leader. He was tall & strong, a superb horseman, & a fearless fighter." "His service in the French & Indian War made Washington one of the most experienced officers in America, & when the time came for an American revolution, it stood to reason that Washington would be the best man to lead the charge." "As relations between Britain & the American colonies deteriorated, Washington made his way to Philadelphia as a representative of Virginia in the 2nd Continental Congress." "On June 15, 1775, at the outset of the Revolutionary War, Congress officially named George Washington commander in chief of the Continental Army." "Washington decided to wage a suprise Christmas Eve attack..." "...his troops would have to cross the icy Delaware River." "Washington read aloud the words of Thomas Paine: 'Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope & virtue could survive, that the city & the country alarmed at one common danger came forth to meet & to repulse it.'" "They would have to cross a near frozen river - in a blizzard - & reach the other side quick enough to take the enemy by surprise before dawn. Washington's leadership, his army, & the American Revolution were all riding on the success of this singular mission." "In the brief, chaotic, & bloody encounter, the Continental Army held their own & soundly defeated the Hessians, giving way to a much-needed morale boost & a surge of courage to American forces." "The Battle Of Princeton was another stunning American victory, giving way to renewed hope & confidence." "The small pox infection..." "At that time, there were no vaccines. To fight the spread of this disease, they used a method called inoculation." "After Washington ordered the inoculation for all of his troops, smallpox rates dropped, & his army returned to health once again. But this sigh of relief wouldn't last long." "Washington decided to attempt larger-scale confrontations. Unfortunately, he was met with defeat after defeat, namely at the Battle of Brandywine where 1300 of his men were killed by British forces." "He & his troops retreated to their winter encampment at Valley Forge in December of 1777. It was there that Washington's faith would be truly tested." "Life in Valley Forge was grim. Food was sparse, disease was rampant, & men were dying left & right." "That winter, disease, malnutrition, & exposure to the elements killed more than 2500 American soldiers at Valley Forge." "The primary reason that so many of them were able to endure these harsh circumstances at Valley Forge was the power of prayer. These men believed in God's deliverance, & they believed in their general. After all, Washington made no secret of his faith."' "Washington commanded his men to clean up their own lives. He admonished each of them to fear God & practice Christian values." "God prepares generations of men & women to be ready to pledge their lives, their fortunes, & their sacred honor to something beyond themselves. Washington took the pledge & allowed God's providence to intervene." "Following a victory at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, America won the Revolutionary War." "...in 1783, Washington appeared before the Continental Congress & resigned his post as commander in chief of the Continental Army." "...Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention." "'If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise & the honest can repair; the event is in the Hand of God!' After 4 months of debate, a Constitution was finally agreed upon & signed on September 17, 1787." "Less than 2 years later, Washington was elected the first president of the United States of America. With his right hand placed on a Bible opened to Deuteronomy 28, Washington took the oath of office" "No people can be bound to acknowledge & adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency." "...the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order & right which Heaven itself has ordained" "...on October 3, 1789, Washington issued a Thanksgiving proclamation... Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be be grateful for his benefits, & humbly to implore his protection & favor - and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving & prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety & happiness." "And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers & supplications to the great Lord & Ruler of Nations & beseech him to pardon our national & other transgressions - to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several & relative duties properly & punctually - to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just & constitutional laws, discreetly & faithfully executed & obeyed - to protect & guide all Sovereigns & Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) & to bless them with good government, peace, & concord - To promote the knowledge & practice of true religion & virtue, & the encrease of science among them & us - & generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best." "He was no god, but he certainly believed there was one, & he consistently displayed that through his words & his actions." I John 4:2-3 Matthew 10:32 Luke 12:8 Matthew 7:15-17 "Washington passes all of these scriptural tests. He requested that people pray for him. He held thanksgiving services after victories. He cited biblical passages in his writings. He praised God for His intervention, acknowledged His providence, & appealed to Him for protection & guidance." "...to the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian" "Washington also recruited chaplains for his troops in the Continental Army." "The blessing & protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress & danger" "Some scholars label Washington a deist. However, deists deny 3 tenets that Washington affirmed: the value of prayer, the Word of God, & God's active involvement in the world." Psalms 33:12 "Washington had faith that God would bless his land & bless his people." "George Washington was a torchbearer in a dark world, & through his faith & obedience to God's guidance, the light of Christ would prevail in the United States of America." Leaders Of Liberty, Justin Nicholson & Donnie Swaggart, pgs. 3 - 26. |
AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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