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Online! | | Six Short Rules for Young Christians!!! | | I found these rules in an old book by: Brownlow North, he was a preacher in the last great awakening in Northern Ireland in 1859. Sadly alot of his simple rules for young christians are not been abided by older mature christians in our day and age, especially the last point!
[b]Six Short Rules For Young Christians[/b]
[b]i.[/b] Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray, remember that God is present, and that He hears your prayers. (Heb. xi. 6)
[b]ii.[/b] Never neglect daily private Bible-reading and when you read, remember that God is speaking to you, and that you are to believe and act upon what He says. I believe all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two rules. (John v. 39)
[b]iii.[/b] Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and then ask yourself, What am I doing for Him? (Matt. v. 13-16)
[b]iv.[/b] If you are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, go to your room, and kneel down and ask God's blessing upon it. (Col. iii. 17). If you cannot do this, it is wrong. (Rom. xiv. 23)
[b]v.[/b] Never take your Christianity from Christians, or argue that because such and such people do so and so, that therefore you may (2 Cor. x. 12). You are to ask yourself, How would Christ act in my place? and strive to follow him. (John x. 27)
[b]vi.[/b] Never believe what you feel, if it contradicts God's Word. Ask yourself, Can what I feel be true, if God's Word is true? and if [i]both[/i] cannot be true, believe God, and make your own heart the liar. (Rom. iii. 4; 1 John v. 10, 11)
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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|  2003/7/27 19:15 | Profile | Maria
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USA
| | Re: Six Short Rules for Young Christians!!! | | I'm only posting this because after PMessaging the webmaster with it, he asked me to:
I loved each and every one of those except this one:
"iii. Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and then ask yourself, What am I doing for Him? (Matt. v. 13-16)"
Now, this is being picky I know -- but our doing things FOR God rather than abiding IN God can get us into trouble. So, I would rather say:
iii Each night one should present himself before the throne of Grace and say, "Lord, have I accomplished all thou hast for me to do? Am I abiding in You as I should? Please lead, direct and guide me in Your Righteous ways today, tomorrow and for all eternity!"
(Like my wilt and thou? I thought it was fitting -- plus it just kind of came out that way...)
"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."
For what it's worth,
Maria
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Stephanie
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| | 2003/7/27 20:42 | Profile | TaKa
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Joined: 2003/4/17
Posts: 124
Louisiana
| | Re: Six Short Rules for Young Christians | | Very nice! And it's easier to remember than the Holy Club list, although that is another good one that I have on my bulletin board.
Yes, when we pray we must believe that God is present, and that He hears our prayers. Charles Finney said that faith means confidence - confidence in God and His all sufficiency.
It's so easy now to neglect daily private Bible reading. Alot of people seldom read books anymore because there is such a wealth of information online.
But when you get online there are always so many other distractions that could take your attention away. I still think there's nothing quite as good as a real book.
It's so easy to walk away from a short time of Bible reading and totally forget what we read. We would do well to remember that it is GOD who is speaking to us, and that it is a serious thing to not believe and act upon what He says.
I would have to agree that all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two things. Brother Ravenhill used to say that a sinning man will stop praying, but a praying man will stop sinning.
David said that he hid God's word in his heart so that his heart would be changed and made undivided toward God so that he would not sin against God.
Considering what Jesus has done for us, I don't think we should ever let a day go by without trying to do something for Him.
But yes, I agree that what we do for Jesus must be initiated by Him, and not by us. Watchman Nee said that the reason obedience is better than sacrifice is that in sacrifice there can still be room for the element of self-will.
So it's not, "What do I want to do for God?", but "What does HE want me to do?"
This next point at first glance seems like something for children or something only immature believers would have to consider, but when we think we stand, let us take heed, lest we fall.
If we are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, then it's probably wrong. If we've been praying and seeking God everyday to guide us, then He will guide us into all truth.
But I think if we're considering a question and it keeps on bugging us, then we should go to our room and kneel down and ask God about it.
I totally agree that to argue that because such and such people do so and so, that therefore it's okay for me to do it is total foolishness.
To be separated unto God means to be different from the crowd. Just because most church-going people are buddy-buddy with the world and worldly things doesn't mean we have to be.
There are any legitimate activities, attitudes, and words we should not partake in for the sake of separating ourselves unto God.
Yes, our feelings can betray us if our emotions and attitudes are not brought into submission to God every day. That's why daily prayer is so important.
I think these are some good rules, not only for young Christians, but for all of us.
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Troy
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| | 2003/7/28 13:20 | Profile | sermonindex
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Online! | | Re: | | Quote:
I found these rules in an old book by: Brownlow North, he was a preacher in the last great awakening in Northern Ireland in 1859. Sadly alot of his simple rules for young christians are not been abided by older mature christians in our day and age, especially the last point!
These simple points have been a blessing in my life I hope others who read it are edifyed in a special way by them. Sometimes getting simple is what we really need, we tend to over complex-size things usually I thing its part of human nature.
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| | 2004/5/16 14:13 | Profile | Yodi
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| | Re: | | Quote:
These simple points have been a blessing in my life I hope others who read it are edifyed in a special way by them. Sometimes getting simple is what we really need, we tend to over complex-size things usually I thing its part of human nature.
Hmmm... about making simple things complex, I agree. Concerning the "rules" about being in devotions, I agree. But... something inside me makes me a little questionable about following "rules". Commandments I believe are totally different. But I've been reading through the New Testament lately and all over it talks about God's grace breaking the Jews free from having to strictly follow Jewish laws and rules.
Quote:
vi. Never believe what you feel, if it contradicts God's Word. Ask yourself, Can what I feel be true, if God's Word is true? and if both cannot be true, believe God, and make your own heart the liar.
My question kind of is, where does the Holy Spirit come into all this? ([laughs] Am I making things complex?) I'm only wondering because last night in a Bible study we learned about the Holy Spirit speaking to Peter and preparing him to go and meet Cornelius the Roman. Now, what the Holy Spirit told him to do was totally contrary to what he knew to be true from Jewish law. I'm sure this Jewish law was recorded in the Old Testament somewhere, about what to eat and not eat. What the Holy Spirit told Peter to do was against what he knew to be true according to the Scriptures, right? Here's the story:
"The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat them.'
'Never, Lord,' Peter declared. 'I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws.'
The voice spoke again, 'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.' The same voice was repeated three times. Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven.
Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found the house and stood outside the gate. They asked if this was the place where Simon Peter was staying. Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, 'Three men have come looking for you. Go down and go with them without hesitation. All is well, for I have sent them.'
So Peter went down and said, "I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"
... Peter replied, 'I see very clearly that God doesn't show partiality. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. I'm sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel - that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all...'
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles, too."
(Read the complete story in Acts 10)
My point is, though rules and standards are often good, shouldn't we also maybe remember to be open to the Holy Spirit's leading, even if it goes against what we personally think is right?
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Yolanda Fields
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| | 2004/5/25 14:14 | Profile |
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