Feed my Sheep || Sunday Worship || R C Sproul

A faithful ministry doesn't entertain goats; it feeds the sheep.

The sad reality is that many churches today are valuing entertainment over exegesis, results over regeneration, and peace with the world over the proclamation of the word.

Yet, Christ is clear: the church's mission is to make disciples. That is, to evangelize the lost and encourage and edify the saints. Too many have lost sight of this in the name of growing a bigger church. But, it is not a big church that pleases Christ, but a faithful one. May we all turn back to the word and, as Luther said, let it do its work. For, where the word is faithfully preached, the Holy Spirit faithfully attends with all of His graces, causing the dead to live and further strengthening the faith of the redeemed.

"The saints, the holy ones, those called out from the world assemble together on Sunday mornings to be fed. We are to do evangelism, engage in outreach, and be involved in ministries of mercy, but Sunday morning belongs to the sheep. It is the task of the pastor and of the church to feed the sheep. If someone who is not a sheep comes in, that's fine, but we're not going to change the menu and give the sheep goat's food... Babies have almost no influence in a culture. Before they can turn the world upside down, they have to grow up, they have to become mature, and that happens as they are fed the Word of God. Nothing less will do. Notice that when Jesus spoke to Peter, He did not say, 'Peter, if you love Me, feed the goats.' Neither did He say, 'Peter, take care of your flock; feed your sheep.' He said, 'Feed My sheep, feed My lambs, tend My sheep.'"

— R.C. Sproul

Undeserved Blessing Deuteronomy 9

Deut 9:4–5

4 “You shall not say to yourself when Yahweh your God is driving them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness Yahweh brought me to take possession of this land’; but because of the wickedness of these nations Yahweh is driving them out before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness and because of the uprightness of your heart that you are coming to take possession of their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations Yahweh your God is driving them before you, and in order to confirm the promise that Yahweh swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 

     HE now more plainly warns the people not to exalt themselves in proud and foolish boasting. 

     "Speak not thou in thine heart" is equivalent to reflecting or conceiving an opinion. 

Wherefore Moses not only reproves the boasting of the lips, but the hidden arrogance, wherewith men are puffed up, when they take to themselves the praise which is due to GOD.   Moreover, he not only prohibits them from ascribing it to their own valour, that they had rooted their enemies, and gained possession of the land, but also from imagining that this was the just recompense of their merits.

     Moses does not forbid the people from thinking that they had themselves acquired the land without GOD's aid; nay, he takes it for granted that they themselves will acknowledge that it was by GOD's help that they were victorious; but he is not contented with this limited gratitude unless they at the same time acknowledge that they had deserved nothing of the kind, and therefore that it was a mere and gratuitous act of HIS bounty. 

     Note the reason given in the second clause, the nations were driven out (of Caanan) on account of their own wickedness; 

HE transferred the Land from the Reprobate to those whom HE had chosen graciously (unconditional election). There remains nothing to boast but to say "For by Grace, we are saved".

     Total Depravity - They don't desire GOD. They were naturally perverse and rebellious. They don't choose GOD. For they are 'Stiff-necked' people. 

     'Stiff-necked' - this metaphor is taken from 'oxen', which are useless unless untill they are accustomed to bend their necks; it is then the same as saying that they were not only unsubmissive, but that in their obstinancy they shook off the yoke. 

     Hence, it sufficiently appears that there was no room for merits. If so, then GOD's covenant would have been nullified. (Promise given to their forefathers were found on mere grace of GOD.)

     Now if in regard to an earthly inheritance GOD so greatly exalts HIS mercy, what must we think of the heavenly inheritance? HE would have it attributed to HIMSELF alone, that the children of Israel possess the land of Canaan; how much less, then will HE tolerate the obtrusion of men's merits in order to the acquisition of Heaven? Nor is there anything in the pretense of the Papists that they attribute the first place to GOD's bounty; because HE claims altogether for HIMSELF what they would share with HIM. 

     But if any object that this was only said to HIS ancient people, I reply, that we are no better than they. Let each retire to HIMSELF, and HE will not excuse the hardness of the neck. 

     But they who are regenerated by GOD' SPIRIT, know that they are not naturally formed unto obedience; and thus that it is only mercy which makes them differ from worst of men.

Deut 9:6-7

“So you should understand that it is not because of your righteousness that Yahweh your God is giving you this good land to take possession of it, because you are a stubborn people. Remember, do not forget, that you provoked Yahweh your God in the desert, and from the day that you went out from the land of Egypt until you came to this place you were rebelling against Yahweh.

(Selected from John Calvin's Complete Commentary)

Matthew Poole’s English Annotations on the Bible on Deuteronomy 9:4 ~ 

     Neither for thy upright heart, nor holy life, which are the two things which God above all things regards, 

1 Chron. 29:17

, 

Ps. 15:1–2

; and consequently he excludes all merit. And surely they who did not deserve this earthly Canaan, could not merit the kingdom of glory. That he may perform the word which he sware; to show my faithfulness in accomplishing that promise which I graciously made and confirmed with my oath. By which words it is implied, that this land was not given to them for the righteousness of their fathers, though they were righteous and holy persons, and much less for their own righteousness, which they had not, as it follows.

Immortal Till Work Done

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. (Psalm 118:17)

     A fair assurance this! It was no doubt based upon a promise, inwardly whispered in the psalmist's heart, which he seized upon and enjoyed. Is my case like that of David? Am I depressed because the enemy affronts me? Are there multitudes against me and few on my side? Does unbelief bid me lie down and die in despair-a defeated, dishonored man? Do my enemies begin to dig my grave?

     What then? Shall I yield to the whisper of fear, and give up the battle, and with it give up all hope? Far from it. There is life in me yet: "I shall not die." Vigor will return and remove my weakness: "I shall live." The Lord lives, and I shall live also. My mouth shall again be opened: "I shall declare the works of Jehovah." Yes, and I shall speak of the present trouble as another instance of the wonder-working faithfulness and love of the Lord my God. Those who would gladly measure me for my coffin had better wait a bit, for "the Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death." Glory be to His name forever! I am immortal till my work is done. Till the Lord wills it, no vault can close upon me.

THE MIGHTY MAGNET

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” John 12:32

Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour; for this is the greatest “draw” that was ever yet manifested among men.

What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you, and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw others? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn, and see if it does not draw them.

No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and learned, depraved or amiable — all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other.

Music will not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise. Jesus Himself must draw men to Himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in every case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the Lord work in His own way, and draw with the Lord’s own cords.

Draw to Christ, and draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.

“On mine arm shall they trust.”

         — Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

Abiding in Obedience, in Love

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. (John 15:10)

These things cannot be parted—abiding in obedience and abiding in the love of Jesus. A life under the rule of Christ can alone prove that we are the objects of our Lord's delight. We must keep our Lord's command if we would bask in His love. If we live in sin we cannot live in the love of Christ. Without the holiness which pleases God we cannot please Jesus. He who cares nothing for holiness knows nothing of the love of Jesus.

Conscious enjoyment of our Lord's love is a delicate thing. It is far more sensitive to sin and holiness than mercury is to cold and heat. When we are tender of heart and careful in thought, lip, and life to honor our Lord Jesus, then we receive tokens of His love without number. If we desire to perpetuate such bliss we must perpetuate holiness. The Lord Jesus will not hide His face from us unless we hide our face from Him. Sin makes the cloud which darkens our Sun: if we will be watchfully obedient and completely consecrated we may walk in the light, as God is in the light, and have as sure an abiding in the love of Jesus as Jesus has in the love of the Father. Here is a sweet promise with a solemn "if," Lord, let me have this "if" in my hand; for as a key it opens this casket.

Plentiful Refreshment

Their soul shall be as a watered garden. (Jeremiah 31:12)

Oh, to have one's soul under heavenly cultivation; no longer a wilderness but a garden of the Lord! Enclosed from the waste, walled around by grace, planted by instruction, visited by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and guarded by divine power, one's favored soul is prepared to yield fruit unto the Lord.

But a garden may become parched for want of water, and then all its herbs decline and are ready to die. O my soul, how soon would this be the case were the Lord to leave thee! In the East, a garden without water soon ceases to be a garden at all: nothing can come to perfection, grow, or even live. When irrigation is kept up, the result is charming. Oh, to have one's soul watered by the Holy Spirit uniformly—every part of the garden having its own stream; plentifully—a sufficient refreshment coming to every tree and herb, however thirsty by nature it may be; continually—each hour bringing not only its heat, but its refreshment; wisely—each plant receiving just what it needs. In a garden you can see by the verdure where the water flows, and you can soon perceive when the Spirit of God comes.

O Lord, water me this day and cause me to yield Thee a full reward for Jesus' sake. Amen.