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SINAI – The Way Of Death
Sinai is a desert; a barren, desolate, inhospitable and largely lifeless place. How suitable that God should give the law in Sinai. It is the place of death and the killing letter. Here Moses received the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone. Today travellers to Mount Sinai reach the summit along a steep track of 3,750 so-called steps of penitence between two towering walls of solid rock. It is a fitting reminder of how Moses’ two tablets of stone have, by design, shut out the light of grace and weighed down the poor convicted soul. Making it, says Paul “the ministration of death”. How adamant the “killing letter” of the law has proved to be by its relentless condemnation and its barren, fruitless “yoke…
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Sanctification By The Truth
A Sermon Preached By John M’Kenzie At Zoar Chapel, Great Alie St, London, On Monday October 24th, 1842 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word, is truth.”—John 17:17 From these words I shall at once proceed to make a few remarks, without staying either to consider their connection, or losing time with any introductory observations, but shall immediately come to the subject by dividing it into two general heads. First: examine a little into the nature of the doctrine of divine sanctification; and Secondly: enquire briefly what we are to understand by truth, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” We observe then, first, that “sanctification” throughout die Scriptures conveys the meaning of a separation or a setting apart for holy purposes. And…
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Covenant
COVENANT The Scripture sense of this word is the same as in the circumstances of common life; namely, an agreement between parties. Thus Abraham and Abimelech entered into covenant at Beersheba. (Gen. 21:32.) And in like manner, David and Jonathan. (1 Sam. 20:42.) To the same amount, in point of explanation, must we accept what is related in Scripture of God's covenant concerning redemption, made between the sacred persons of the GODHEAD, when the holy undivided Three in One engaged to, and with, each other, for the salvation of the church of God in Christ. This is that everlasting covenant which was entered into, and formed in the council of peace before the word began. For so the apostle was commissioned by the Holy Ghost,…
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January 5—Morning Devotion
"I am my beloved's, and his desire is towards me."—Solomom 7:10 Yes, dearest Jesus! I am truly thine, by every tie which can make me thine. I am thine by the gift of GOD the FATHER; by thine own betrothing me to thyself; by the HOLY GHOST anointing me in thee, and making me one with thee, and in thee, before the world. And I am thine in the recovery of the church from Adam's fall and transgression by the sacrifice of thyself: for thou hast bought me with thy blood, and made me thereby the conquest of thine HOLY SPIRIT. And now through thy divine teaching I can and do discover, that from everlasting thy desire was towards thy redeemed ones, and even when…
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December 23—Morning Devotion
"Lo, I come."—Psalm 40:7 What a longing had old testament saints for the Lord Jesus's coming! And what an earnest wish and prayer it is among new testament believers, for Jesus's coming by the visits of his grace, and the sweet influences of his Holy Spirit, from day to day! My soul, methinks I would realize by faith this day, even this very day, these words of thy Redeemer, as if he were now standing at the door of thine heart, and asking for admission. And shall I not say, under this sweet impression, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, wherefore standest thou without?" Oh blessed Jesus, when I consider the many precious instances of thy coming, set up from everlasting in thy goings…
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December 11—Morning Devotion
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."—Malachi 3:3 My soul, contemplate this gracious office of thy Jesus, and then see, whether he hath as graciously wrought it on thee. Jesus found our whole nature, when he came to save it, wanting refining and purifying indeed. By the operation of his holy word, and by the influences of his blessed spirit, he brings the souls of his people into the furnace of purification. By the fire of troubles, of afflictions, of persecutions, he melts down their stubborn nature there. By the Spirit of judgment, and by…
