GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 20

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

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CHRIST LIFTED UP

John 3:14-15

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”

I must admit that, at first sight, the bronze serpent seems to be the most absurd invention that anyone could have devised for curing those who were bitten.  Yet, I see in the bronze serpent, when I come to study it, the highest wisdom that even God Himself could develop.  “So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole.  If a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (Numbers 21:9).  Our texts say that Moses lifted it up upon a pole, and, with one look, life was given.  Ah, dear friends, Christ Jesus must be lifted up for those who are bitten by sin and lie in terminal danger so that we may live.

“Oh,”  says the sinner, “I have been so sinful!  I can’t be saved.”  What has the extent of your sin to do with it?  Christ is infinitely righteous – look at Him.  “No, no” says another, “I cannot look at Christ.  You do not know what crimes I have committed.  I have been a drunk, I have been enslaved to lust, and more.  How can I be saved?”  My dear reader, your wounds have nothing to do with it.  Christ on the cross is all you need – all you have to do is to look.

For remember, the brazen serpent was lifted up so that everyone in the camp who was bitten might live.  Now, Christ is lifted up to you so that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  The devil says that you are shut out; tell him that “whoever” shuts out none.  Oh, that precious word:  “whoever.”  Remember, the serpents bit everyone – it didn’t matter how old they were or where they lived in the camp – but if they looked, they lived.  Remember, it is the same Christ for big sinners as for little sinners, for gray heads as for babies, for the poor as for the rich, for chimney sweeps as for monarchs, and it is the same Christ for prostitutes as for saints – “whoever.”

If you are weeping today on account of your sin, look to Jesus, and for your encouragement, note first that Jesus Christ was put on the cross on purpose for you to look at.  Look at Him.  Look at Him and live!  Remember again for your encouragement that He asks you to look.  He invites you to believe.  The promises of Jesus Christ are all as good as oaths – they never fail.  He says, “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Just cast yourself wholly on Christ, and if you are not saved, then God’s book is a lie, and God Himself has broken His truth.  But that cannot be!  

So, come and try it!  LOOK TO HIM!

(As a side-note, This  statement, “Look to Him.” Was the phrase that opened Charles Spurgeon’s heart to salvation as a teen-ager in London.  He was on his way to his family church, and the snowstorm got so bad he had to take shelter in small, poor church.  The old pastor’s sermon was built solely on those three words, “Look unto Him.”  Even though he had been going to church in a “religious” family all his life, that was the beginning of his salvation life and his life as the most articulate preacher of all time.

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Psalm 80:3

Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!

Acts 2:21

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Psalm 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Psalm 85:2

You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin.

Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy end

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