“You may find a false god to idolize; you may offer him the daily incense of your devotions; but will this god pardon your sins when you are stretched upon a bed of death? Will money do it? Will fashion do it? Will respectability do it? Will the praise of men do it? Will your own legal, pharisaical, self-righteous heart do it? Turn to all these gods and see what they can do for you on a bed of sickness, in the hour of death, in nature’s last extremity, against Satan’s accusations, a guilty conscience, and the wrath of the Almighty. What can these idols do for you in that hour when flesh and heart fail? All they can do is to abandon you at the last to reap what you have sowed, and leave you in the hands of him who is a consuming fire.”
“Who is a God like unto you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)
– J.C. Philpot, 1866, The Triumphs of Mercy
Some pastors are not sermon readers. I am, however. Sometimes I imagine what it might have been like to hear a sermon in that time and place to hear those words for that congregation. The Spirit’s anointing there works differently than for us who read because he situations and circumstances are different, as well as the hearts and minds of the hearers. That’s true today. I preach a sermon and there’s work done as it’s happening, while the recorded message heard later works for others quite differently by the same Spirit.
I love what you posted from Mr. Philpot’s sermon. His conclusion was powerful after having presented his first two points. Wonderful.
This passage from his sermon particularly touched me today, “Now God delights in mercy. It is not drawn from him unwillingly; it is not forced out of him even by importunity; it is not dragged out of his heart by the cries of his children; but he delights in it as being his darling attribute, the very pleasure of God being in showing mercy to the miserable.”
Thank you for posting this gem, dear sister.
May the Lord bless you and Steve in all His delights today.
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments. They are edifying in and of themselves!
Given the downward pull of this earth and our daily struggle to resist, I liked the chiding the sound of the challenge to actually find something to prevail against the mercy and forgiveness of God. It was as if God would make mockery of everything the world has to offer and say, “I dare you!”
May the Lord bless you, Lisa, and your family Brother Jon! You are a tremendous encouragement to me and Steven and we thank God for you.
Some nowadays would say that those words are too hard. But is it more loving to let people go their merry way possibly to destruction or to warn them to flee from the wrath to come? It is His kindness that leads us to repentance and that kindness brings us face to face with the politically incorrect truth about our sin and His just wrath.
J.C. Philpot:”What can these idols do for you in that hour when flesh and heart fail?”
Nothing of course!
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Jon: “Sometimes I imagine what it might have been like to hear a sermon in that time and place to hear those words for that congregation. The Spirit’s anointing there works differently than for us who read because he situations and circumstances are different, as well as the hearts and minds of the hearers.”
What an interesting thought Jon! Transporting back in time to the issues Philpot may have been addressing to his congregation in 1866 – and yet realizing there is nothing new under the sun.
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Christina: “Given the downward pull of this earth and our daily struggle to resist, I liked the chiding the sound of the challenge to actually find something to prevail against the mercy and forgiveness of God.”
Yes, a bit of sarcasm it would seem Christina! And yet pointed directly at our hearts!
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Pilgrim Mommy: “But is it more loving to let people go their merry way possibly to destruction or to warn them to flee from the wrath to come?”
Oh yes! Pilgrim Mommy! When we keep this thought in the forefront of our minds who but the most cold hearted selfish person could resist the urgency to preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
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Me: Just basking tonight in the blessed interaction of my brother and sisters in Christ via a technology our dear brother Philpot would not of dreamed of in his wildest imaginations! And yet, I can’t help but believe that if he were here with us, sitting at a computer that he would be as blessed as I am by our sweet conversation!
God’s richest blessings be upon all of you and your families tonight!
With much love!
Christina, this post is a gem indeed, and so are the comments and additional thoughts and quotes that follow it – priceless! I have added this to my blog’s ‘weekly gems’! I thank God for all of you!!! God bless you!
Thank you ALL for your blessed comments!
May His grace, mercy, and peace be with you all today!
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
Blessings to you, Paul!