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USER COMMENTS BY “ CHAD ” |
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| RECENTLY-COMMENTED SERMONS | More | Last Post | Total |
| · Page 1 · Found: 7 user comments posted recently. |
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 5/14/08 11:51 AM |
| Chad | |  |  |
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“ The God Of The Aged (3) ”
...efficiently and effectively. It doesn't always have to be this way, but from my observations this is generally the rule rather than the exception.
I am not implying that you are old! May it never be! Perish the thought! But I do believe there is wisdom in Spurgeon's remarks that apply to all believers relative to the time period they have been walking with Christ. Even the text that you preached from testifies to this. The text wouldn't have had the same meaning if it were describing the persecution of a young Paul, but since it was an aged Paul we can infer that he applied the wisdom, knowledge, and assurance of our faithful God to his decision to withdraw from the good fight, and choosing instead to wait for a more opportune time. He was battle tested, and confident in his great God who has already carried him through various trials and sufferings. This is the same God who proved Himself faithful to Paul through countless other battles previously. This is the same God who King David spoke of when he said in Psalms 37:23-25, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous... |
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| 5/14/08 11:47 AM |
| Chad | | | |
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“ The God Of The Aged (2) ”
...not get work for six weeks; or, at another time, when I broke my leg." He begins telling you the history of the promises, and says, "There, now. I know they are all true." What blessed thing, to look upon them as paid notes; to bring out the old cheques that have been cashed and say, "I know they are genuine, or else they would not have been paid." Old people have not the doubts young people have about the doctrine. Young people are apt to doubt; but when they get old, they begin to get solid and firm in the faith. I love to get some of my old brethren, to talk with me concerning the good things of the kingdom. They do not hold the truth with their two fingers, as some of the young men do; but they get right hold of it, and nobody can take it from their grasp.
One of the things that I was reminded of during the sermon was how the older, discerning man is able to "see" the various stages of maturation in the Christian life more clearly. There is first the new believer who has zeal, but lacks real knowledge and understanding. Then once he has developed a firm hold on sound doctrine he is often like a bull in a china shop, causing needless havoc. Then later, Lord willing, he learns to be meek and gentle, and to use the knowledge and zeal the Lord has given Him more... |
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| 5/14/08 11:42 AM |
| Chad | | | |
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“ The God Of The Aged (1) ”
I am really thankful for this sermon from Acts 23 regarding Paul's tactfulness and wisdom to withdraw from the Sanhedran without further confrontation. In the words of the great philosopher Kenny Rogers, "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run..." .
I don't believe an unseasoned preacher could have preached this sermon with the same resolve, because he doesn't have the same vantage point of these different stages. As Charles Haddon Spurgeon said in his sermon entitled "The God of the aged":
I believe there is a blessedness about old age that we young men know nothing of. I will tell you how that is. In the first place, the old man has a good experience to talk about. The young men are only just trying some of the promises; but the old man can turn them over one by one, and say, "There, I have tried that, and that, and that." We read them over and say, "I hope they are true;" but the old man says, "I know they are true." And then he begins to tell you why. He has got a history for everyone, like a soldier for his medals; and he takes them out, and says, "I will tell you when the Lord revealed that to me; just when I lost my wife: just when I buried my son; just when I was turned out of my cottage, and did... |
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3/9/10 1:13 PM
