INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
"Vers. 1 - 11. Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus."
"True love, which seeks the good of others, & not its own interest, consents to be forgotten, sacrificed." "Well, if to-day there is in the world a Christian Church, if there is a refuge accessible to all the sorrows of earth, an asylum where the soul escapes for ever from the oppressions of this world, a spiritual home where faith, hope, & love abide for ever; if we ourselves have been able to find there a place; it is certain that at its base there are acts of devotion without number, obscure deaths, unknown sufferings, silent sacrifices, which none can count." "The state of the wicked is a very restless one." "Herod, a man governed by fear: - I. HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW COWARDICE, SUPERSTITION, & CRUELTY NATURALLY GO TOGETHER." "If men will be bold in sin, ministers must be bold to reprove. (Gurnall.)" "...IF WE FAITHFULLY DO OUR DUTY, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR IT." "If we are really in earnest in serving God, Satan will be sure to stir up some opposition against us. These hindrances are the tests of our faithfulness." "GOD'S GRACE IS ALWAYS SUFFICIENT." "...DEATH MAY BE VIEWED NOT WITH HORROR BUT WITH JOY." "If only we are ready for death, can death come too soon? It is the door of release from storm & cloud, sorrow & sin. (S. W. Skeffington, M. A.)" "Ver. 12. And went & told Jesus." "A complaining Christian once said to a cheerful, happy Christian, 'Things always seem to go smoothly with you; I never hear you make any complaints.' To which he replied, 'I have found out an effectual way of guarding against that fault - telling Jesus all, & telling Him before I tell any one else; then, I find, I seldom need tell any one else, for in telling Him about my troubles, I often find the burden entirely removed.' (A. Tucker.)" "Vers. 13, 14. When Jesus heard of it He departed thence by ship." "Jesus hears of John's death, & thereupon seeks seclusion." "He desired to be alone. That He mighty pray." "He will not relinquish His work because of instances that might have shocked Him with fatal distress." "Vers. 15 - 21. They need not depart; give ye them to eat. - Christ feeding the multitude" "The all-sufficiency which He possessed in Himself." "However little you have bring it to Jesus, & He will will make it more." "The foolishness of preaching becomes the power of God." "The more we feed on Christ, the more always is there of Christ to feed on; He increases to us. (A. M. Stuart.)" "Joy & hope are social; they ask for companionship; they spread by contact & mutual encouragement." "Ver. 23. He went up into a mountain apart to pray." "...WE OUGHT TO SET APART SOME PORTIONS OF OUR TIME FOR PRIVATE AND SILENT... conversation with God & our own hearts." "If Jesus Christ found it needful & advantageous to engage in retired devotion, how much more so must it be for such weak & imperfect creatures as we are - not only ministers, but private Christians also." "There are some particular seasons in which Christians should be much in private prayer; such as times of affliction, public calamity, prevailing departure from the knowledge, experience, & practice of true... (Christianity); seasons of suspense & embarrassment; seasons of ease & prosperity." "Ver. 24. For the wind was contary." "THE WAY OF DUTY IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. Even when constrained by love of Christ to undertake any particular work, we are often beset by difficulties & obstacles: no plain sailing, always breakers ahead." "The contrary wind may prepare us for higher service in the cause of Christ." "No contrary wind can last for ever. By & by Christ will come to us, & then there will be peace. Yes, & after a time we shall reach the other shore; & when we touch that, we shall be done with difficulties." "Vers. 22, 27. And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, & to go before Him unto the other side." "He sometimes puts on the garments of trouble; & when we are calling upon Him as though He were yet in heaven, He is walking by our side" "Ver. 26. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled." "It is amazing what power the living voice, especially a long-known & much-loved voice, has to touch the heart, & to awaken confidence & peace, & emotions of all kinds, that may have been long dormant in the soul. (A. L. R. Foote.)" "Vers. 28, 33. - And Peter answered Him & said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." "...it is not the power or word of Christ that gives way, but only the faith of Peter in this power or word. So long as he looks to Jesus this word supports him." "Peter in his extremity cries aloud to Jesus." "They who sit securely in their boats are not liable to sink." "He looked to the danger, & not to the Saviour." "He discovered his helplessness, & prayed for safety, 'Lord save me;'" "Here we are taught not to be unmindful of our dangers, but to keep our thoughts fixed on the greatness & faithfulness of Christ when we are surrounded by them." "Ver. 31. Wherefore didst thou doubt. - Doubting Christians: - 1. It perverts all they do by directing them to a wrong end. 2. It withdraws the mind from Christ. 3. It sours the temper. It breeds fears. 4. It gives Satan peculiar advantage against the soul. 5. The providence of God appears dark to such a soul. 6. It occasions false comfort. 7. It tarnishes the profession of such a person. (J. Cooke.)" "He who bought His people with His own Blood cannot lose his inheritance, & will not permit any enemy to wrest from His hand the satisfaction of His soul." "...the portion of the Redeemer cannot be wrenched from His grasp. 'Ye are His.' Christ is the safety of a Christian. (W. Arnot.)" "Ver. 36. As many as touched were made perfectly whole." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 295 - 312.
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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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