Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Proverbs 9:8-11
HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE – John3:30
The key to a right relationship with God is found in this statement: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). It is only right that Christ increase and I decrease because He is the Creator and I am the creature; He is the Savior and I am the sinner. If I am to be saved, I must decrease in my own righteousness until I have none and Christ must increase until Christ becomes all my righteousness. I must decrease in my own ability and Christ must increase in ability until I am totally dependent on Christ. I must decrease in value and Christ must increase in value until Christ becomes my all in all. I can never have a proper view of God until Christ increases until He is everything and I decrease until I am nothing.
Pastor Frank Tate
But Something was Wrong!
Rolfe Barnard told about a young preacher who graduated from a Bible institute and began to preach the easy-believism gospel which he had learned in school. His Bible teachers had the dispensations all arranged, prophecy all figured out, methods perfected to attract the biggest crowds, soul-winning procedures down pat, and “how to build a great church” neatly wrapped in a fool-proof package.
This young preacher made sure to use every gimmick, every tactic, and every invitation in his effort "to win men to Christ” and he was very successful! The people heard his easy-believism message and they accepted Jesus as their Saviour from hell, as the supplier of their financial needs, and as the healer of their bodies. And, for good measure, they were told that they were eternally secure in their decision and could never be lost.
BUT SOMETHING WAS WRONG! The young man detected no fruit of the Spirit in his great congregation. He saw no love for Christ, the Word, or even for other people. There was no faithfulness in worship, giving, and witnessing unless they were motivated by threats, special programs, pledges, and contests. There was no hunger and thirst for righteousness, no meekness and humility; there was only divisions and strife!
In desperation, he resigned from this religious monstrosity and began all over again. But this time, instead of preaching easy-believism, he preached man's ruin and God's remedy in Christ. He declared salvation to be the gift and work of Christ. He demanded that men repent and receive Christ, not only as Saviour, but as the Sovereign Lord of their entire lives. And he called for unconditional surrender, total submission, and heart faith in Jesus Christ.
This way was difficult, as Christ said it would be. The message was offensive, as Christ said it would be. But the result was the miraculous calling out of bond-slaves and disciples to Christ and the young preacher’s heart rejoiced in the presence and fellowship of his Lord.
Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1980)
I WILL HEAL AND CURE THEM
Jer. 33:6-9
In these verses of scripture we have the gospel of grace given to us in a providential type and picture. Paul has told us that all things that happened to Israel of old were given for our example to teach us and comfort us in the way of grace (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). Israel was taken into captivity by the Chaldeans and then delivered by the decree of God (Jer.33:26). The same is true of God’s spiritual Israel, they were taken captive by sin, Satan and the holy justice of God and then delivered by the almighty decree of God (Rom. 8:28-30). Notice carefully some of the blessings given in these verses.
1). I will bring health and cure.
Through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, all our spiritual diseases have been put away and we are eternally healed (Isa. 53:4-6; I Peter 2:24).
2). I will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
Apart from the revelation of the word of truth to our heart we are ignorant of the way of peace in Christ (Rom.5:1); Who is the truth of salvation (Acts 4:12), the truth of redemption (Heb. 9:12), the truth of righteousness (Jer. 33:16). Now in Christ, we have peace with God through truth (John 14:6; Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:18-20).
3). I will cause them to return.
We were in bondage to sin and powerless to deliver ourselves from captivity. By the obedience and sacrifice of our Lord we have been liberated from sin, death and eternal condemnation (Rom. 6:7, 18; 8:1, 32-39; John 8:32-36; Gal. 5:1).
4). I will build them.
God’s elect rest upon the foundation of Christ Himself, being the Chief Cornerstone (Isa. 28:16). Upon this foundation our Lord declared that, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt.16:28).
5). I will cleanse them from all their iniquities.
This can only happen through Jesus Christ bearing our sin and judgment in our room and stead (I Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 1:7-9).
6). I will pardon them from all their sin and transgression against me.
Who but God alone has such authority and right to declare the guilty justified in His sight (Neh. 9:17; Isa. 55:6-7; Rom. 8:32-33).
All of these blessings God has freely and sovereignly given us in Christ Jesus that we should be, “a name of joy, praise and honour” (Jer. 33:9).Therefore we should worship Him, “for all the goodness and prosperity that I procure (appoint) unto it (His elect)” (1Thes. 5:9).
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