Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
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From the Sermon
Final Greetings
1 Corinthians 16:19–24 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 35:39 • ID: 1810
Warnings for Deliverance
In a biography, both the author as they write and then the readers as they read face a great temptation to gloss over the subject’s faults. Scripture, on the other hand, makes no attempt to conceal or excuse the faults, failures, or sins of its heroes. And it is in the aftermath of spiritual triumph that the potential for defeat often seems to be at its peak.
In a victory of faith, Noah obediently continued, without a drop of rain falling, to build the ark. But after the flood, we read a sorry description of all that Noah allowed to happen in his drunkenness (see Genesis 9:20-27). Abram set out on the journey of faith; however, he then brought disgrace on himself and his family through his lies when he went down into Egypt (12:10-20). David triumphed over Goliath yet later found himself perpetrating adultery (and very possibly rape), murder, and chaos (2 Samuel 11 onwards).
Each of these characters are heroes who achieved great things in the cause of God, and who also failed. They stood tall, and they fell hard. The Bible gives us these examples not as excuses to hide behind but as warnings to deliver us from complacency when things are going well, and from expecting too much of others—and indeed, from expecting too much of ourselves!
The theologian A.W. Pink reminds us, “God suffers it to appear that the best of men are but men at the best. No matter how richly gifted they may be, how eminent in God’s service, how greatly honoured and used of Him, let His sustaining power be withdrawn from them for a moment and it will quickly be seen that they are ‘earthen vessels.’ No man stands any longer than he is supported by Divine grace. The most experienced saint, if left to himself, is immediately seen to be as weak as water and as timid as a mouse.”[1]
Mercifully, God does not leave us to ourselves: he provides us with righteousness, salvation, truth, and his word so that we may not only endure but stand strong amid every trial and temptation. As we recognize within ourselves the same weaknesses and defeats experienced by heroes such as Noah, Abraham, and David, we are able to rely on God’s grace and power to support us through the Lord Jesus, our only true “way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Let this serve as a reminder that you are continuing in your faith, growing in holiness, or impacting the world for the kingdom not as a result of your strength or intellect or character, but because of God’s grace. The person who truly knows this sees complacency as a grave danger, and sees prayer as an absolute essential, for they know that it is only the Lord who can keep them standing day by day, moment by moment. Do you?
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Warning Against Idolatry
1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,1 that our fathers were all under bthe cloud, and all cpassed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and dall ate the same espiritual food, 4and fall drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for gthey were overthrown2 in the wilderness.
6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as hthey did. 7iDo not be idolaters jas some of them were; as it is written, k“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8lWe must not indulge in sexual immorality mas some of them did, and ntwenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ3 to the test, oas some of them did and pwere destroyed by serpents, 10nor grumble, qas some of them did and rwere destroyed by sthe Destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example, but tthey were written down for our instruction, uon whom the end of the ages has come. 12Therefore vlet anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. wGod is faithful, and xhe will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
The Great Confirmer
The words of the Amen.
The word Amen solemnly confirms what went before, and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable forever is "the Amen" in all His promises. Sinner, I would comfort you with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."1 If you come to Him, He will say "Amen" in your soul; His promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of His flesh, "A bruised reed he will not break."2 Poor, broken, bruised heart, if you come to Him, He will say "Amen" to you, and it will be true in your soul as in hundreds of cases in years gone by.
Christian, isn't this very comforting to you also, that there is not a word that has come from the Savior's lips that He has ever retracted? The words of Jesus will stand when heaven and earth pass away. If you get ahold of but half a promise, you will find it true. Watch out for those who ignore the promises and so miss much of the comfort of God's Word.
Jesus is Yes and Amen in all His offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once; He is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for His people and to defend them with His mighty arm; He is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come; His words remain trustworthy and true—He is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of His blood; He is Amen as to His righteousness. That sacred robe will remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title that He bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Refuge and your Strong Tower; the Vessel of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yes and Amen in everything.
1) Matthew 11:28
2) Matthew 12:20
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for April 19
Feasts of the Lord
1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, pThese are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall qproclaim as rholy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.
The Sabbath
3s“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.
The Passover
4p“These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the tholy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. 5uIn the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight,1 is the Lord's Passover. 6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7vOn the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 8But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.”
The Feast of Firstfruits
9And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, wWhen you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of xthe firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, 11and he shall ywave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12And on the day when you ywave the sheaf, you shall offer a zmale lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. 13aAnd the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah2 of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, band the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.3 14And you shall eat neither bread nor grain cparched or cfresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
The Feast of Weeks
15d“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the ywave offering. 16You shall count efifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of fnew grain to the Lord. 17You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as gfirstfruits to the Lord. 18And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 19And you shall offer one hmale goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of ipeace offerings. 20And the priest shall ywave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. jThey shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. 21And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.
22“And kwhen you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
The Feast of Trumpets
23And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In lthe seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, ma memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”
The Day of Atonement
26And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27“Now non the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves4 and present a food offering to the Lord. 28And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29For whoever is not afflicted5 on that very day oshall be cut off from his people. 30And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”
The Feast of Booths
33And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, pOn the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths6 to the Lord. 35On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 36For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. qOn the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a rsolemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.
37s“These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, 38tbesides the Lord's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord.
39“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have ugathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40And vyou shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and wyou shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41xYou shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42yYou shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43that zyour generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
44Thus Moses adeclared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the Lord.
Joy Comes with the Morning
A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of rthe temple.
1I will sextol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes trejoice over me.
2O Lord my God, I ucried to you for help,
and you have vhealed me.
3O Lord, you have brought up my soul from wSheol;
you restored me to life from among those who xgo down to the pit.1
4Sing praises to the Lord, O you yhis saints,
and zgive thanks to his holy name.2
5aFor his anger is but for a moment,
and bhis favor is for a lifetime.3
cWeeping may tarry for the night,
but djoy comes with the morning.
6As for me, I said in my eprosperity,
“I shall never be fmoved.”
7By your favor, O Lord,
you made my gmountain stand strong;
you hhid your face;
I was idismayed.
8To you, O Lord, I cry,
and jto the Lord I plead for mercy:
9“What profit is there in my death,4
if I go down to the pit?5
Will kthe dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10lHear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11You have turned for me my mourning into mdancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12that my nglory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
1nThere is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2a man oto whom pGod gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he qlacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God rdoes not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;1 it is a grievous evil. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that sthe days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's tgood things, and he also has no uburial, I say that va stillborn child is better off than he. 4For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5Moreover, it has not wseen the sun or known anything, yet it finds xrest rather than he. 6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy2 no good—do not all go to the one place?
7yAll the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.3 8For what advantage has the wise man zover the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9Better ais the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is bvanity and a striving after wind.
10Whatever has come to be has calready been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to ddispute with one stronger than he. 11The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his evain4 life, which he passes like fa shadow? For who can tell man what will be gafter him under the sun?
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1You then, wmy child, xbe strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and ywhat you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses zentrust to faithful men,1 awho will be able to teach others also. 3bShare in suffering as ca good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier dgets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5eAn athlete is not fcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is gthe hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8Remember Jesus Christ, hrisen from the dead, the ioffspring of David, jas preached in my gospel, 9kfor which I am suffering, lbound with chains as a criminal. But mthe word of God is not bound! 10Therefore nI endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain othe salvation that is in Christ Jesus with peternal glory. 11The saying is qtrustworthy, for:
rIf we have died with him, we will also slive with him;
12tif we endure, we will also reign with him;
uif we deny him, he also will deny us;
13vif we are faithless, whe remains faithful—
for xhe cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14Remind them of these things, and ycharge them before God2 znot to quarrel about words, awhich does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,3 a worker bwho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But cavoid dirreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are eHymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, fsaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: g“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone hwho names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20Now in ia great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, jsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, kif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,4 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, lready for every good work.
22So mflee nyouthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with othose who call on the Lord pfrom a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant qcontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And rthe Lord's servant5 must not be quarrelsome but skind to everyone, table to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents uwith gentleness. God vmay perhaps grant them repentance wleading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from xthe snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
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