Bind the “strong man”

“When we use God’s Word in accordance with his will, we have all the consent and power of the Almighty behind us. We therefore take the word of Jesus which commands us to bind the strong man…in order to spoil his goods (the souls of men held in his thrall). We shall find that when we exert ourselves to do this with an energy and devotion at least as keen as we apply to selfish pursuits, lo, people begin to respond to God’s Word, perhaps to our great surprise. It is not to be wondered at. The truth is that men’s hearts and lives are in fact in bondage to Satan (1 John 5:19), and when his power is broken, they are free to hear and heed God’s Word.

“This is a great secret; and yet many of us go on in Christian work year by year, dealing with men as if they were normally free agents willing and able to do what we say, or what they themselves will. They are not (Rom. 7:14-20), until God frees them in answer to prevailing prayer.”

From Towards Spiritual Maturity: Overcoming all evil in the Christian life (revised edition), by William Still (1911-1997), published by Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., pp. 77-78.

“My Song Is Love Unknown”

A wonderful hymn about our Savior’s love:

“My Song Is Love Unknown”



My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne,
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know.
But Oh my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.

Sometimes they strew His way
And His sweet praises sing,
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.

They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

—Samuel Crossman (1623-1683), 1664

HT: Ray Ortlund

Albertina Walker (Aug. 29, 1929 - Oct. 8, 2010)

In memory of the great gospel singer, Albertina Walker, who passed away yesterday morning: Here is a clip of her singing, “Lord, Keep Me Day by Day”, a song made popular by the Caravans, the gospel group Albertina organized in the early 1950s. What is so precious about this clip, recorded several years ago (probably early ‘90s), is the gospel music history that is gathered in the room. Many of the participants you see were pioneering figures in traditional gospel music.

UPDATE: Embedding was disabled for this video, so you may view it here, instead.

The Marks of Regeneration

I’ve been blessed especially this week by some quotes from J.C. Ryle (1816-1900). Erik Kowalker over at J.C. Ryle Quotes has been posting “The 6 Marks of Regeneration”, brief quotes taken from J.C. Ryle’s book, Regeneration. Bishop Ryle based these marks or evidences of regeneration on the 1st Epistle of John. I encourage you to examine your soul in the light of Scripture, and rejoice in those evidences of the gracious work of God that you find in your own life.

1. “A regenerate man does not commit sin as a habit.”

2. “A regenerate man believes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior by whom his soul can be pardoned and redeemed; that He is the divine person appointed and anointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and that beside Him there is no Savior at all.”

3. “A regenerate man is a holy man.”

4. “A regenerate man has a special love for all true disciples of Christ.”

5. “A regenerate man does not make the world’s opinion his rule of right and wrong.”

6. “A regenerate man is very careful of his own soul.”

7. Summarizing the 6 Marks of Regeneration

Twenty years ago

Next to the salvation of my soul, I believe the best and most wonderful gift I’ve ever received from God is my wife. She’s not only an awesome mother to our sons, my best friend and lover, but, humanly speaking, a man couldn’t ask for a greater supporter and encourager. I am truly blessed. Happy 20th Anniversary, Catherine! I love you!

“He Decided to Die”

(as sung by LaBarbara Whitehead and the Donald Vails Choraleers)



by Margaret Pleasant Douroux

When Jesus hung on Calvary,
People came from miles to see.
They said, “If you be the Christ,
Come down, and save your life!”
But Jesus, He never answered them,
For He knew that Satan was tempting Him.
If He had come down from the cross,
My soul would still be lost.

He would not come down from the cross just to save Himself;
He decided to die just to save me.

Out in the blogosphere

Justin Taylor recently posted a couple articles to aid us in our biblical and theological study:

“A Primer on Limited (or Definite) Atonement”

“Puzzling Pronouns in the Prophets”

He also recently posted a devotional piece, helping us apply the gospel in our day-to-day lives:

“The Gospel at the Grocery Store”

HT: Justin Taylor

New Life Bible Conference 2010: The memory lingers

What a wonderful time in the Lord we had at last weekend’s New Life Bible Conference, sponsored by New Life Fellowship Church, which meets in the northern Chicago suburb of Vernon Hills, IL. The theme was “In Christ Alone: The supremacy of Christ in the book of Hebrews”. The worship, the Christian fellowship and, most of all, the word of God preached by Anthony Carter, Thabiti Anyabwile, Hensworth Jonas and Stephen Love, truly blessed our souls. Next year’s conference will be held June 23-26, 2011, so put it on your calendar now and, if possible, try to join us here in Chicagoland for a glorious time in the Lord. Below is a video “slideshow” put together by Anthony Carter to give you some idea of what a great time was had by all.

2010 New Life Bible Conference: "In Christ Alone" from Anthony Carter on Vimeo.

HT: Anthony Carter

“I want to cross over to see my Lord!”

“Get Away, Jordan” by Dorothy Love Coates (1928-2002)

Get away, Jordan!
Get away, O chilly Jordan!
Get away, Jordan!
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord!

I promised the Lord if He would set me free…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
I’d go until I find out what the end might be…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

One day, one day I was walking along…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
You know I heard a voice, but I saw no one…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

You know the voice I heard sounded so sweet…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
It came down from my head to the soul of my feet…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

Get away, Jordan!
Get away, O chilly Jordan!
Get away, Jordan!
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord!

You know, one of these mornings—it won’t be long…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
You gonna look for me, child, and I’ll be gone…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

A few more risings and setting of the sun…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
This ol’ battle be fought, the victory won…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

You know the friends that I used to love so dear…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.
They’ve gone on to Glory and left me down here…
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord.

When my feet get cold, my eyes are shut,
My body been chilled by the hands of death,
Tongue glued to the roof of my mouth,
Hands are folded across my breast,
You don’t have to worry ’bout the way I fare,
God Almighty done told me He’d be right there.
Lift me on His mighty wings of love,
Carry my soul to the heavens up above.
Jordan may be deep and wide,
But I told mother I’d see her on the other side.

Get away, Jordan!
Get away, O chilly Jordan!
Get away, Jordan!
Yes, I want to cross over to see my Lord!

“He’ll Understand and Say ‘Well Done’”

As we come to the close of another Father’s Day, I want to link to this YouTube video (audio, actually) of The Famous Davis Sisters singing an arrangement of the Gospel song, “He’ll Understand, and Say ‘Well Done’”, by Lucie E. Campbell. This happens to be the song I sang as a solo at my great-grandfather’s funeral in 1989. I sang it straight but, in this recording, the Davis Sisters, led by big sister Ruth Davis, turn this simple song into a rollicking Gospel number.

I hope the song encourages you. Remember, when our Lord returns, if we’ve been faithful, we’ll hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, 23).