Ten years later: Gracia Burnham update

If you need some encouragement or inspiration today in your life, watch this story that brings us up to date on what is happening in the life of Gracia Burnham, who along with her husband Martin were New Tribes missionaries in the Philippines. They were kidnapped by an extreme Muslim terrorist group and held hostage for a year.  Martin was killed in a rescue attempt.

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Why does it take me so long to overcome sin?

I preached on cultivating holiness in our lives as “exiles” and “sojourners” this past Lord’s Day.  My text was 1 Peter 1:14-16 where we are called to be holy because the Lord our God is holy!  I had a few people mention how they appreciated the sermon and yet are disappointed that the road to holiness is so long and hard.  ”I can’t believe that sometimes besetting sin takes so long to get rid of.” I shared some thoughts with them but here are a few more helps from Pastor Julian Freeman from Canada in his post “Why I am Discouraged/Encouraged by Slow Growth.” He begins:

This morning I was thinking about the sin that remains in me and how stubborn it is. I was frustrated that I’m not more holy already and discouraged by the pace of my growth in holiness.

As I contemplated the gospel and how it relates to my pace of growth in holiness I was first discouraged and then encouraged. Here’s what I mean.

Keep reading.. . . 

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Never say I’m just a sinner saved by grace

Trevin shares how a simple rebuke from a godly man helped him to understand why we shouldn’t say “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”  (Which I have said myself many times).

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Spiritual fruitfulness: defining and diagnosing?

Terry Enns poses a good question for all of us to consider:  Are you growing in spiritual fruitfulness?

Then Terry goes on to define the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.

I found both of these posts helpful, especially having just spent some time praying through the fruit of the Spirit with our church family.

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Spurgeon on pride

Wherever pride is found it is always hateful to God.

Pride is the lifting up of the soul in rebellion against the Lord.

God cannot endure the proud, for pride is a stab at Deity; it is an attack on the undivided glory of God.

“I am humble” he says. Is there any soul living that is so proud as he who says he is humble?

If we get five minutes’ communion with God in secret prayer, then up comes Satan again, and says, “Oh, you are growing in grace! You are a wonderful Christian.

In all cases, pride is most unreasonable. There is never in a poor sinner any reason why he should be proud.

Pride is hateful to man. Men cannot bear a proud man.

I am more afraid of a lofty pride of self than anything else under heaven.

If any are getting so proud that they are living by their feelings, or living on their old experience I think that we may stand in doubt of them, and they have reason to doubt themselves.

~ Charles Spurgeon

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