blind bartimaeus

about to begin again.

blindbart — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:40:52 +0000

After a long pause, I have decided to indulge in blogging again. With my original intent. To encourage in the name of Jesus Christ. With prayer and hope in our Lord and Saviour, may it be an encouragement to all who read.

As for the past 6 months, I have read and listened to a lot of good messages and teaching that I hope I can point others to for encouragement. I have been blessed by meeting new brothers in Christ and being encouraged by them and by Him being glorified in their fruits. I pray that they will all continue strong in their obedience to faith!

I am currently in the book of Esther and Romans. I am also currently studying Evangelism and continuing my study in Systematic Theology. I am also slowly working my way through Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. In all probability, I will blogging much on these subjects and such things related.

comes from within

blindbart — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:13:38 +0000

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Pro 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

Jam 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

1 Peter 3:10-12

10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I find that most times that I speak, that I am usually afterwards regretting most of it. If its not arrogant, it’s idle. If its not idle its irreverent, if its not irreverent, its surely no Glory to God. I have, including in this blog, tried to be encouraging and not so opinionated, but that isn’t what is coming out. I try to just use scripture, but even as now, I have to put in my 2 cents. 2 cents isn’t worth anything, even if its all I have. 2 cents is 2 cents. What comes out of my mouth is what comes from within. No one asks for my 2 cents, but I sure give it, like its a gift to all who may hear it. How can I be so sure? How can I be so..

Unless I am in Spirit, the words will likely be my own. Even if I recite the Word, if I am not in Spirit, the words come out as my own. My own words. I pray that they are all demolished with all the rest of my iniquities by the Grace of God. Every last one.

The Doctrine of Truth

blindbart — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:33:52 +0000

“HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us and we discern very little.
What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.
We have eyes and do not see.
What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak — the Beginning Who also speaks to us. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright. He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all things to it and who sees all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.
O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; You alone speak to me.
The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes, the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God. And since he enjoys interior peace he seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?
A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the dictates of right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.
Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.
If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.
Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worth while.
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble.
He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.”

-Thomis A’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 3

“soap box”

blindbart — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:33:34 +0000

For any of whom may read this blog, which is not many but a few, you might read an occuring theme on my thoughts. I have my “soapbox” as a brother I know would say. The Lord provides my food and my raimant. The Lord provides the Word that I might hear his commands. How Graceful is He that sacrificed His life for His friends!

By the Will of God, what Christ Jesus commands us to do will be my soapbox until his most Highest comes again.

One of out Pastors told me about this book.

If it appears that I am on the John Piper train, so be it. The man is teaching the Word of God and with integrity and vigilence. Just like any teacher, we must match every word he speaks with the Word and prayer, as he even adds in this book.

“Most of all I hope you will pray as you read. Even if you are
not accustomed to praying, ask God to protect you from any mistakes
I may have made and to confirm to you what is true. In the end,
what matters is the effect that God produces in our lives through
his written word by his Spirit. That’s what makes prayer so crucial.
In prayer we ask God to transform us in that way. “

~John Piper – Introduction What Jesus Commands of the World

He is an encouraging Teacher of the Word, and he is a true blessing to my whole house.

confidence in man?

blindbart — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:04:07 +0000

It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. Psa 118:8

I was talking with a brother in Christ about accountability. I mentioned to him that I had been praying about Christian men in fellowship and how they should be able to confess their sins to one another in the Lord, and ironically he said that he had recently started doing just that with another brother, once a week. He mentioned that it was very difficult, that he had never confessed to anyone else like this. He said that the most amazing blessings have happened between him and this brother since. Blessings of healing and strength from the Power of the Holy Spirit.This brother, by trusting God and his Word, is receiving the promised blessings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

He is not trusting himself, because no man in the flesh would ever risk this humiliation of character. No man in the flesh would risk a crush to his pride by someone else knowing where they fall short. Could this explain some of the lack of real fellowship with men in the Church today?

If the Lord is who we put our confidence in, then we are not putting confidence in man. That means we have no confidence in our flesh, in the men we are(pride), but in Him. So, (in this specific case) confidence in the Lord would mean the lack of pride, which could lead men to confessing to one another and building each other up, mortifying the sin in eahc one of them and be blessed. But, if we are not trusting Him, who are we trusting in but ourselves. Which would be pride, which would be sin. I don’t know what brother confesses to what brother, I admit. I also admit that I have never had a brother confess anything to me other than already confessed, already lamented, already sorrowed for, confessions. In other words, a first time, heart broken confession.

Keep yourselves in the love of God

blindbart — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 12:39:12 +0000

Jud 1:20-25
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

The Word of God abides in you or you will not overcome the evil one

blindbart — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:21:10 +0000

As a “constant”, “always”, “for sure”, “all we have”. The Word is what we have to be in as much as possible in and throughout our day. Some might feel that is difficult work. But without it, and without prayer, we are sure to be attacked. We must be aware of the deceiver, who is known to come from within a man. We must make sure of our thoughts with the Word. We must have the Word in our thoughts and our prayer or we become more blind and deaf to the sin in our day and as our day goes. By the time we get home to the Family, we are more bound to sin than we are to God and we all know what that leads to. Sin leads to death. Our children need the Truth and promises of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If Christ conquered death and we believe in Him, then why would we come him in sin, which leads to death? It’s immediately seen. Either with anger, or with selfishness, or most of the time, pride. I don’t have to elaborate, all men do these things when sin has been ignored. I have such a great helper in my Wife who points these sins out to me, although they have already done the damage. The Helper is Jesus Christ. Without the Word and prayer for the Spirit, there is no way that I can make it through my day without sin, which leads to death.

Praise God Almighty for his mercy and grace. For the love that he gives us in his only Son, that we may be free from our sin and follow him in righteousness. Why and how could we ever forget this great gift? We are deceived by what is within. That is why we need the Word, the whole armor of God. He is the Way. The only Way.

John Piper says..

Supplements

blindbart — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:35:44 +0000

2Pe 1:5-10
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Tomorrow is its own trouble.

blindbart — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:06:03 +0000

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34

Don’t regret yesterday, Don’t presume about tomorrow. Do today’s business with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as your preeminent thought.

(Our Pastor gave us these words that I though I should pass on to those who weren’t there.)

“Lie passive in God’s hands, And know no will but his.”

blindbart — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:26:34 +0000

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1Pe_5:7

It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel-”HE careth for me.” Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to

“Lie passive in God’s hands,
And know no will but his.”

O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in his providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, his heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of his family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not his grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God.

Charles H. Spurgeon – His Morning Devotion