Archive for the Discontentment Category

Spurgeon Morning and Evening June 3rd a.m.

Posted in * Favorites, Discipleship, Discontentment, God's Plan, Peace with tags , , , , on June 3, 2009 by Harry

spurgeonTHESE WERE THE POTTERS [WHO] LIVED THERE IN THE KING’S SERVICE.  – 1 CHRONICLES 4:23

Potters were among the ranks of manual workers, but the king needed potters, and there fore they were elevated to royal service, although the material upon which they worker was nothing but clay. In the same way we also may be engaged in the most menial part ol the Lord’s work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for the King; and therefore we will play our part, hoping that, although we live among the pots, we will soar in the service of our Master. These people dwelt among plants and hedges and had rough, rustic hedging and ditching work to do. They may have wanted to live in the city, amid its life, society, and refinement, but they kept their assigned places because they were doing the king’s work. There is no ideal place for us to serve God except the place He sets us down. We are not to run from it on a whim or sudden notion, but we should serve the Lord in it by being a blessing to those among whom we live. These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they lived with the king, and although among hedges and plants, they lived with the king there. No lawful place or gracious occupation, however menial, can keep us from communion with our Lord. In hovels, run-down neighborhoods, and jails, we may keep company with the King. In all works of faith we can count upon Jesus’ fellowship. It is when we are in His work that we may reckon on His smile. You unknown workers who are serving the Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have often been found among rubbish, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ugly weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell with the King and do His work, and when He writes His chronicles, your name shall be recorded.

LTW: "The Detours to Discontent" not archived

Posted in Discontentment, Giving, Peace, Pride, Weaknesses on December 12, 2007 by Harry
  • Before beginning the discussion it should be noted that absolute peace cannot be had in this life
  • 4 detours of contentment in our Christian life
    • 1. Unwillingness to confront our weaknesses
    • 2. Unawareness of the lie of a legalism
    • 3. Underestimation of the pitfall of pride
    • 4. Unfaithfulness in self-giving

  • We all have weaknesses
    • We have to apply the grace of God to our weaknesses
    • If the grace of God is not sufficient for our weaknesses, then we are focusing on our weaknesses too much, or we are ignoring them altogether
    • Either place is someplace we should not be
    • The grace of God is sufficient for our weaknesses and until we apply God’s grace to our weaknesses then we will not have joy
  • Legalism is the elevation to any man-made rule to the level of God or to the commandment of God
    • We are only saved by the grace of God
    • There is no saved by God + “something else” ; there is no “+” anything
  • Underestimation of the pitfall of pride
    • Pride is very, very,very deceitful
    • Pride hinders our prayers
  • Lack of generosity
    • Has nothing to do with what you have and what you give, it comes down to making a sacrifice
    • Ultimate contentment is not possible in this life, nonetheless we are given temporary peace and joy by God in this life

LTW: "Coming Home to Contment" not archived

Posted in Discontentment on December 11, 2007 by Harry
  • Many believers are discontented and we all face it at some point
  • There are two components to discontent
    • Sin – for into which we are born
    • God’s grace
  • If we live for #1 alone we live a morbid life
  • If we live only for #2 then we are mercurial (up and down)
  • We must come to grips with #1 and #2
  • Cain’s restlessness began with jealousy
    • Cain learned from his parents a bad example
  • Abel learned growing up that failure to please God – God’s way is a disaster, and this is reflected in his sacrifice
  • Abel shed the blood of a lamb just as God did when he removed Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, this by the way is foreshadowing the blood of Jesus on Calvary
  • Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God
  • Cain offered what he though God should have, not what God asked for
  • Value of the sacrifice was not the problem
  • The problem of Cain’s sacrifice was a problem of the heart

Manna: “Extracting the Precious from the Vile” **

Posted in Discontentment, Trials and Suffering with tags on December 9, 2007 by Harry
  • “Complaining kills our faith”
  • Perspective -> Emotions -> Mouth
  • Once our moth gets involved, our course is set
    • We remove God from the equation
  • With our mouth we set a course to follow our negative expectation

  • Jeremiah
    • Called as a prophet while a teenager
    • Called to the southern tribes
    • Never had one convert (no Jew repented)
    • His second book was the book of lamentations

    He began to complain:

    • Jer 15:19
    • Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

    1. Jeremiah had to repent

    • Negativity is a sin, as complaining is a sin; we remove God from the equation

    2. Before me you shall stand

    • Lord says return to me and I shall restore you
    • We want God close during hardships
    • Yet by our negativity we run Him off

    3. Lord did not say He will remove his troubles

    • He tells Jeremiah there is always something from Me in every circumstance
    • You will never find God if your mouth sets a negative course
    • Complaining and negativity is the language of darkness
    • Faith finds God in dark places

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