Old Treasures Made New

Luke 9:18-22 "Year rolls on after year, and finds them in the same state--talking, criticizing, fault-finding, speculating, but never getting any further--hovering like the moth round religion, but never settling down like the bee, to feed on its treasures." "Honest, practical obedience, is one of the keys of the gate of knowledge." "Knowledge, no doubt, is an excellent thing; but knowledge without zeal and warmth will never do much for the world." "Let us beware of allowing traditions, old preconceived notions, unsound interpretations, baseless theories in religion, to find root in our hearts. There is but one test of truth "What says the Scripture?" Before this let every prejudice go down." Questions: 1. The goal of knowing God is loving Him more deeply. Does our study and meditation of Scripture and sermons have this effect or are we content to speculate without, as Ryle says, “settling down like the bee, to feed on its treasures?” 2. Ryle says that although knowledge is excellent, it will never do much for the world without zeal and warmth. To what degree would we say our zeal and warmth meet our knowledge? 3. The gospel can become negatively familiar to us, but what does hearing of the willingness of Christ’s going to the cross, His being very God of very God do to our hearts as we hear this good news again?

Luke 9:12-17 "When He wills a thing, it shall be done. When He commands a thing, it shall come to pass. He can create light out of darkness, order out of disorder, strength out of weakness, joy out of sorrow, and food out of nothing at all. Forever let us bless God that it is so!" "Of their own invention they are not commissioned to give anything. All that they convey to men, must be from Christ's hands. So long as they faithfully discharge this office, they may confidently expect their Master's blessing." Questions: 1. Ryle says that this account of feeding 5000 men is an example that nothing is impossible for God. How does this account of Jesus’ power encourage us in the things like an unbelieving child or impossible circumstance? 2. Ryle argues that this miracle is an acted parable of the glorious gospel: a lost world, a merciful Christ, and disciples being given what is necessary to feed the lost. Have we tasted of the bread of life? Are we faithfully giving Him to others?

Luke 9:7-11 "Conscience is a most powerful part of our natural constitution. It cannot save our souls. It never leads a man to Christ. It is often blind, and ignorant, and misdirected. Yet conscience often raises a mighty testimony against sin in the sinner's heart, and makes him feel that "it is an evil and a bitter thing" to depart from God." "Occasional retirement, self-inquiry, meditation, and secret communion with God, are absolutely essential to spiritual health. The man who neglects them is in great danger of a fall." "We are apt to be wearied of their instability, and fickleness, and halting between two opinions. But let us remember Jesus, and not be weary. He "received all," spoke to all, and did good to all. Let us go and do likewise. As Christ deals with us, so let us deal one with another." Questions: 1. Do we know from experience, the silencing of our guilty consciences, by the blood of Jesus Christ? Do we run quickly to the cross when our consciences condemn us? 2. Do we have times of ‘being alone with God?’ Do we believe that the neglect of such times is the occasion of many backslidings away from Christ? 3. Ryle points out that Jesus was always willing to receive, speak, and do good to all. How much like Jesus are we in this way?

Luke 9:1-6 "The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock is no true pastor." "A preaching ministry is absolutely essential to the health and prosperity of a visible church...The minister who exalts the sacraments, or forms of the Church, above preaching, may be a zealous, earnest, conscientious, and respectable minister; but his zeal is not according to knowledge. He is not a follower of the apostles." "From no quarter has Christianity received such damage as it has from the hands of its own teachers. On no point have its teachers erred so much, and so often, as in the matter of personal worldliness and luxury of life. They have often destroyed, by their daily lives, the whole work of their lips." "Let them work on patiently, and sow the good seed without fainting. Duties are theirs. Results are God's. Apostles may plant and water. The Holy Spirit alone can give spiritual life." Questions: This passage is particularly directed toward ministers, but, lest we forget, ministers are to set an example for the flock as well, and so there is much to glean for all here. 1. When we hear of a fellow brother or sister being sick, are we inclined to visit or avoid such situations? Also, are we known for opposing the works of the devil and using the grace of church discipline to win others? 2. Ryle says that the preaching ministry is essential to the health of the church. To what degree do we value this part of our worship? If the minister is to give primary effort and prayer to this labor, do we equally labor and pray to hear and be changed by what we hear? 3. The Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and that we are to store up treasures in heaven, and not on earth. Would those who know us best be able to say that we live in light of these truths? 4. Are we discouraged when our labors bear no fruit? What will we do, even today, to ensure that this truth – namely that we labor and God brings the grow – is etched into our hearts?

Luke 8:49-56 "Why should we not rather look the subject of death in the face, in order that when our turn comes we may be prepared to die? Death will come to our houses, whether we like it or not. Death will take each of us away, despite our dislike to hearing about it. Surely it is the part of a wise man to get ready for this great change. Why should we not be ready? There is one who can deliver us from the fear of death." "Nothing will make us cheerful and tranquil but an abiding sense of Christ's love, Christ's wisdom, Christ's care over us, and Christ's providential management of all our affairs. Faith will not sink under the weight of evil tidings. (Psalm. 112:7.) Faith can sit still and wait for better times. Faith can see light even in the darkest hour, and a needs-be for the heaviest trial. Faith can find room to build Ebenezers under any circumstances, and can sing songs in the night in any condition." "Patriarchs, and kings, and prophets, and apostles, have all in turn been obliged to yield to him. They have all died. But thanks be unto God, there is one stronger than death." Questions: 1. Can we say with Paul, “for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain?” Death is a great enemy, but Christ has removed the sting of death in His death and resurrection. What does this truth do to our hearts? 2. Ryle says that “faith will not sink under the weight of evil tidings, can sit still and wait for better times, can see light even in the darkest hour, is a needs-be for the heaviest trial, and can find room to build Ebenezers under any circumstances.” Have we found this to be true? What are areas we need God to increase our faith? 3. Ryle vividly describes the great enemy death is, and then the great hope we have in Jesus who is stronger than death! What do these verses of Christ’s victory do to our hearts?

Luke 8:41-48 "There are men and women in most congregations who have felt their sins deeply, and been sorely afflicted by the thought that they are not forgiven and not fit to die...Let them consider the conduct of the woman before us in her necessity. When all other means had failed, she went to Jesus for help. Let them go and do likewise." "Forever let it be engraved on our hearts that faith in Christ is the grand secret of peace with God." "The work that we can do for our blessed Master is little and poor. Our best endeavors to glorify Him are weak and full of imperfections. Our prayers and praises are sadly defective. Our knowledge and love are miserably small. But do we feel within that Christ has healed our souls? Then can we not confess Christ before men?" Questions: 1. Ryle compares the woman sick for 12 years as an example of many souls when it comes to sin: how she tried everything but Jesus. Is this you? If so, would you not taste and see that the Lord is good and take hold of His very great and precious promises? 2. How do we have peace with God? Do we feel particularly at peace when everything is going well in our lives, or do we have it by faith, and have peace even when life is not going according to plan? 3. Ryle solemnly reminds us that whoever is ashamed of Christ will be ashamed of by Christ. Are we afraid to confess Christ to those around us? How does this verse encourage/challenge us?

Luke 8:37-40 "People who have the Gospel, and yet refuse to obey it, must not be surprised if the Gospel is removed from them...Let us beware lest by coldness, and inattention, and worldliness, we drive Jesus from our doors, and compel Him to forsake us entirely. Of all sins which we can sin, this is the most sinful." "There is a lesson of deep experimental wisdom in this little incident, which all true Christians would do well to lay to heart. That lesson is our own utter ignorance of what position is good for us in this world, and the necessity of submitting our own wills to the will of Christ." Questions: 1. What are we doing with the gospel? Do we approach it with familiarity, coldness, and inattentiveness, or do we seek, by the grace of Christ, to let its rich truths dig deep into our hearts? 2. Are we content with where God has us, whether good and enjoyable, or disagreeable to flesh and blood? Would we make it our daily prayer, “give me what you will. Place me where you will. Only let me be your disciple and abide in you.”

Luke 8:26-36 "Demoniacal possession of men's bodies may be comparatively rare. But many, unhappily, are the cases in which the devil appears completely to possess men's souls." "To feel that we have ever near us an invisible spiritual enemy, laboring night and day to compass our destruction, would be enough to crush our every hope, if we did not know a Friend and Protector. Blessed be God! The Gospel reveals such a One. The Lord Jesus is stronger than that "strong man armed," who is ever warring against our souls." "One thing, however, must never be forgotten. Striking and miraculous as this cure was, it is not really more wonderful than every case of decided conversion to God. Marvelous as the change was which appeared in this demoniac's condition when healed, it is not one whit more marvelous than the change which passes over every one who is born again, and turned from the power of Satan to God." Questions: 1. Over 150 years ago, Ryle could say that in modern times, demon possession is rarely encountered. I would dare say we would agree, but does that mean we do not give the appropriate biblical weight to the great enemy of our souls? 2. Only if we understand the power of the roaring lion, can we rejoice and take refuge in the power of Christ over Him? Indeed, what does this truth of Christ’s power do for your heart? 3. How do we view conversion? It might not be as drastic as the man possessed by demons, but it is nothing less than a new creation in the hearts of men and women.

Luke 8:22-25 "The mighty High Priest, who is living for us at God's right hand, has had personal experience of all the sinless infirmities of the body. He has himself hungered, and thirsted, and suffered pain. He has himself endured weariness, and sought rest in sleep. Let us pour out our hearts before him with freedom, and tell Him our least troubles without reserve." "It is only too true that sight, and sense, and feeling, make men very poor theologians." "It is a blessed and comfortable thought, that all this almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ is engaged on behalf of His believing people. He has undertaken to save every one of them to the uttermost, and He is "mighty to save."" "Where was the benefit of trusting, if they were to trust their Master in sunshine only, but not in storms? The lesson now before us is one of deep practical importance. To have true saving faith is one thing. To have that faith always ready for use is quite another." Questions: 1. Do we believe that Jesus really does care to hear from us about our infirmities, or those of others? Do we think such requests to be unspiritual? 2. Ryle says that the disciples give us an example that should give a modest expectation from believers. When a professing believer is struggling or afraid – especially in areas where we feel strong - are we quick to call them an unbeliever or doubt their salvation? 3. Ryle helpfully says that this great power that stops the waves is engaged on behalf of His people. Is this one of the truths that brings us comfort and strength in times of difficulty? 4. Consider the last trial you faced. How quick were we to respond in faith? Is there evidence that we have, as Ryle says, a stock of faith ready to use at a moments notice?

Luke 8:16-21 "The highest form of selfishness is that of the man who is content to go to heaven alone." "Let us bear these rules in mind every Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached. Let as not rush into God's presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we shall hear with profit, and return with praise." "The man who hears the word of God, and does it, is the true Christian." Questions: 1. In what practical ways is the gospel of Jesus Christ changing us? Are we content to go to heaven alone? 2. Would our listening to sermons be described more as passive or active? Are we careful to hear with faith, reverence, and prayer, or careless, reckless, and unprepared? What is one practical step we will start this week to grow in hearing? 3. Ryle says that the one who hears and does God’s Word is the true Christian. As we walk this Christian path does it feel narrow? If not, how can we be sure we are on the right path? If so, be comforted that first, we are on the right path, and second, we are Christ’s brother or sister.

Luke 8:4-15 "The parable is preeminently a parable of caution, and caution about a most important subject--the way of hearing the word of God." "But nowhere perhaps is the devil so active as in a congregation of Gospel-hearers. Nowhere does he labor so hard to stop the progress of that which is good, and to prevent men and women being saved. From him come wandering thoughts and roving imaginations--listless minds and dull memories--sleepy eyes and fidgety nerves, weary ears and distracted attention. In all these things Satan has a great hand." "We may be warm admirers of favorite preachers, and yet remain nothing better than stony-ground hearers. Nothing should content us but a deep, humbling, self-mortifying work of the Holy Spirit, and a heart-union with Christ." "The money, the pleasures, the daily business of the world, are so many traps to catch souls. Thousands of things, which in themselves are innocent, become, when followed to excess, little better than soul-poisons, and helps to hell. Open sin is not the only thing that ruins souls." "Let us leave the parable with a deep sense of the danger and responsibility of all hearers of the Gospel. There are four ways in which we may hear, and of these four only one is right. There are three kinds of hearers whose souls are in imminent peril." Questions: 1. Ryle says that Satan is very present in a congregation of Gospel-hearers. Does that surprise us? Are we suspicious of anything that would keep us from hearing and reading God’s Word? 2. Ryle says that emotions are good, but not deep enough for God’s intent for the Word. Are we content to only be filled with joy or tears to fill our eyes and nothing else? 3. It has been said elsewhere that ‘good things become bad things when they become god-things.’ What cares in this world, even good things, are trapping and poisoning our souls? 4. The question that must sit upon us is this: are we those who hear and do the Word of God? Does our hearing produce practical results in faith and practice?

Luke 8:1-3 "Let the diligence of Christ be an example to all Christians. Let us follow in His steps, however far we may come short of His perfection. Like Him, let us labor to do good in our day and generation, and to leave the world a better world than we found it." "Let the recollection of these women encourage all the daughters of Adam who read of them, to take up the cross and to follow Christ. Let no sense of weakness, or fear of falling away, keep them back from a decided profession of religion." "He is pleased to work by means. He condescends to use the agency of missionaries, and the foolishness of man's preaching, in order to spread His Gospel. And by so doing, He is continually proving the faith and zeal of the churches." Questions: 1. Do we lean towards idleness or diligence in our daily lives? In what ways are we ‘redeeming the time’ in this season for the glory of God? 2. Dear sisters, does the example of Mary and Joanna and others encourage you to take up the cross and follow our Lord despite opposition? 3. Ryle says that “true love counts it a pleasure to give anything to the object loved.” In our efforts to redeem the time, do we do it with joy? Is our giving done with a cheerful heart or begrudgingly? Do we love giving ourselves for Christ’s sake?

Luke 7:36-50 "Do we really feel affection toward the Lord Jesus? Can we say, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you?"" "All desire to see among Christians, more good works, more self-denial, more practical obedience to Christ's commands. But what will produce these things? Nothing, nothing but love. There never will be more done for Christ until there is more hearty love to Christ Himself." "The only way to make men holy, is to teach and preach free and full forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The secret of being holy ourselves, is to know and feel that Christ has pardoned our sins. Peace with God is the only root that will bear the fruit of holiness." Questions: 1. Ryle asked the following questions for us to consider: Do we really feel affection toward the Lord Jesus? Can we say, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you?" Have we cordially embraced His whole Gospel? Are we willing to enter heaven side by side with the chief of sinners, and to owe all our hopes to free grace? 2. When it comes to emotions, we can tend to downplay them, maybe even as a reaction to the Pentecostal movement, but the Bible talks about affection for Christ that flows out of the gospel. Does our affection for Christ look more like Simon or the woman of the city? 3. Let me repeat Ryle’s serious, closing questions: What we are doing for Christ's glory? What kind of lives are we living? What proof are we making of our love to Him which loved us, and died for our sins?

Luke 7:31-35 "We must give up the vain idea of trying to please everybody. The thing is impossible, and the attempt is mere waste of time. We must be content to walk in Christ's steps, and let the world say what it likes." "The children of this world may mock at the Gospel, and pour contempt on the lives of believers. They may count their practice madness, and see no wisdom nor beauty in their ways. But God will take care that He has a people in every age. There will be always some who will assert the perfect excellence of the doctrines and requirements of the Gospel, and will "justify the wisdom" of Him who sent it." Questions: 1. Beloved brother or sister, Ryle observes that it is impossible to please everyone. Are we content to walk in Jesus’ steps? Is it more important for us to be servants of Christ or servants of man? 2. Are the ways of God His power to save, or foolishness to us? Have we had the eyes of our understanding opened? What evidences show that we truly have the wisdom that comes from above?

Luke 7:24-30 "Lies and false reports are the chosen weapons by which he labors to injure the Christian's usefulness, and destroy his peace. But let all who are assaulted in their characters rest in the thought that they have an Advocate in heaven who knows their sorrows." "We little know how many blessed truths of the Gospel were at one time seen through a glass darkly, which now appear to us plain as noon-day. Our very familiarity with the Gospel makes us blind to the extent of our privileges." "That every man possesses a power to ruin himself forever in hell is a great foundation truth of Scripture, and a truth which ought to be continually before our minds." Questions: 1. Ryle tells us that slander and lies are one of Satan’s tools against a Christian’s usefulness. When are times this has happened in our lives, and do we believe the words of Jesus that, blessed are you when you are persecuted and reviled for his name’s sake? 2. Does Ryle’s explanation of John being the greatest and yet the least make us thankful for the knowledge we now have in the NT? Are we guilty of taking these truths we see now more clearly for granted? 3. Beloved listener, where does the conduct of our lives declare we are heading: on the straight and narrow road to heaven, or the broad and wide path to hell? Are we living the Bible we profess to believe?

Luke 7:18-23 "Happy are those ministers and parents, whose consciences can testify on their deathbeds, that they have told their hearers and children to go to Jesus and follow Him!" "Would we know whether a Church is true and trust-worthy? Would we know whether a minister is really called of God, and sound in the faith? We must apply the old rule of Scripture, "You shall know them by their fruits." As Christ would be known by His works and doctrine, so must true Churches of Christ, and true ministers of Christ." "Let us beware of being stumbled, either by the humbling doctrines of the Gospel, or the holy practice which it enjoins on those who receive it. Secret pride is one of the worst enemies of man. It will prove at last to have been the ruin of thousands of souls." Questions: 1. What evidences are there in our lives, that we are endeavoring to point our children and others to Jesus Christ? 2. What fruit is evidenced in the lives of the churches we call home? Remember that busyness is not an evidence of fruit, but true love and the fruit the Spirit would bear in our lives. 3. Ryle offers two warnings of what it means to be offended by Christ: either the humbling effect of the Gospel, or the holy practice believers are called to. Do these things offend us or do we, by God’s grace, walk in them boasting in the cross?

Luke 7:11-17 "How much we ought to hate sin! Instead of loving it, cleaving to it, dallying with it, excusing it, playing with it, we ought to hate it with a deadly hatred." "Our Lord Jesus Christ never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His heart is still as compassionate as when He was upon earth. His sympathy with sufferers is still as strong. Let us bear this in mind, and take comfort in it. There is no friend or comforter who can be compared to Christ." "Let us pray for our children, and faint not. Our young men and our young women may long seem traveling on the way to ruin. But let us pray on. Who can tell but He that met the funeral at the gates of Nain may yet meet our unconverted children, and say with almighty power, "Young man, arise!" With Christ nothing is impossible." Questions: 1. Ryle states: “how much we ought to hate sin! Instead of loving it, cleaving to it, dallying with it, excusing it, playing with it, we ought to hate it with a deadly hatred.” To what degree do we hate sin? Are we praying for grace to see sin for what it is, and to hate it more? 2. In our prayers, do we believe that Christ Jesus is compassionate toward our suffering and sorrows? That He has sympathy in our weaknesses? 3. When is the last time we thought about the resurrection hope we have in Christ? What steps will we take, by God’s grace, to put this great truth before us?

Luke 7:1-10 "Let us strive to have an eye ready to see, and a hand ready to help, and a heart ready to feel, and a will ready to do good to all. Let us be ready to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. This is one way to recommend our religion, and make it beautiful before men." Questions: 1. Do we strive to have an eye ready to see, and a hand ready to help, and a heart ready to feel, and a will ready to do good to all? Would others say this about us? 2. Would our family, friends, and co-workers describe us as humble? Do we strive for humility by the grace of God? 3. Do we cling to Christ’s promises like they are our only hope? Are we confident that what Christ said, He will do? 4. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Do we make decisions for ourselves or our children with this great truth in mind?

Luke 6:46-49 "It is a soul-ruining plague, which is continually sweeping away crowds of Gospel-hearers down the broad way to destruction. Open sin, and avowed unbelief, no doubt slay their thousands. But profession without practice slays its tens of thousands." "Such a man's religion may cost him much. Like the house built on a rock, it may entail on him pains, labor, and self-denial. To lay aside pride and self-righteousness, to crucify the rebellious flesh, to put on the mind of Christ, to take up the cross daily, to count all things but loss for Christ's sake--all this may be hard work. But, like the house built on the rock, such religion will stand." "Are we upon the rock, or are we upon the sand? We love perhaps to hear the Gospel. We approve of all its leading doctrines. We assent to all its statements of truth about Christ and the Holy Spirit, about justification and sanctification, about repentance and faith, about conversion and holiness, about the Bible and prayer. But what are we doing? What is the daily practical history of our lives, in public and private, in the family and in the world? Can it be said of us, that we not only hear Christ's sayings, but that we also do them?" Questions: 1. Ryle says that obedience to Christ’s commands is the clearest evidence of saving faith. What are some of those evidences in our lives? 2. What are different forms of temptations and persecutions we have weathered because, by God’s grace, we have a firm foundation in Christ? 3. Brothers and sisters, it is not enough that we love to hear the gospel, approve of all its leading doctrines, assent to statements of truth about Christ, about justification and sanctification, about repentance and faith, about holiness, the Bible and prayer, the question is: what difference do these things make in our lives?

Luke 6:39-45 "With the Bible in our hands, and the promise of guidance from the Holy Spirit to all who seek it, we shall be without excuse if our souls are led astray. The blindness of ministers is no excuse for the darkness of the people." "The passage is a solemn warning not to contradict by our lives, what we have said with our lips. The office of the preacher will never command attention unless he practices what he preaches. Episcopal ordination, university degrees, high-sounding titles, a loud profession of doctrinal purity, will never procure respect for a minister's sermon, if his congregation sees him cleaving to ungodly habits." "Let it be a settled principle again in our religion, that when a man's general conversation is ungodly, his heart is graceless and unconverted. Let us not give way to the vulgar notion, that no one can know anything of the state of another's heart, and that although men are living wickedly, they have got good hearts at the bottom." Questions: 1. Do we test all we hear, like the Thessalonians, through the Scriptures and with the help of the Holy Spirit? Is it normal practice for us to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance? 2. How important is it to us that our lives match our words? Are we quick to examine our lives first before we examine the lives of others? 3. Ryles final questions are good to consider: What fruits are we bringing forth in our lives? Are they, or are they not, fruits of the Spirit? What kind of evidence do our words supply as to the state of our hearts? Do we talk like men whose hearts are "right in the sight of God?"