Prayer Meeting 28/5/2024
The Gift And Beauty Of Holiness - Part 2
(Thomas Brooks)
Watch the Full Sermon HERE
Well it was so good to be back into our puritan teaching at our last prayer night. In fact, I think the Lord has just been so gracious and kind, and loving and equipping in the last month or so. Of course He always is, but it just has felt that bit more special the last few weeks with where we have been with Corinthians. These nights have become special nights also.
Well, we started last time with sharing from the work of Thomas Brooks. Where he shares a whole volume, over 400 pages on what he calls ‘The Necessity, Excellency, Rarity, And Beauty Of Holiness’. Quite, a title isn’t it? No ‘big reveal’ there. No wondering the subject matter there. We have simplified the title and called it ‘The Gift And Beauty Of Holiness’.
Brooks shares this extensive work from one verse in Hebrews 12. Which is one of my favourite chapters in all of God’s Word. Before I open it up lets again read our puritan prayer. And as it’s so fitting I will be reading the same prayer as last time
From the ‘The Valley Of Vision’. Page 304 in the wonderful bonded leather and page 168 of the equally wonderful paperback. If you have the calf’s leather, then I believe it’s the same page as the black, less good quality leather. This prayer is entitled happiness, and the author is anonymous, as its ‘The Valley Of Vision’. But it is so fitting for the subject if you remember, if not, it’s okay because I will remind you of it now:
Oh LORD, help me never to expect any happiness from the world, but only in thee. Let me not think that I shall be more happy by living to myself, for I can only be happy if employed for thee, and if I desire to live in this world only to do and suffer what thou dost allot me. Teach me that if I do not live a life that satisfies thee, I shall not live a life that will satisfy myself. Help me to desire the spirit and temper of angels who willingly come down to this lower world to perform thy will, though their desires are heavenly, and not set in the least upon earthy things; then I shall be of that temper I ought to have. Help me not to think of living to thee in my own strength, but always to look to and rely on thee for assistance. Teach me that there is no greater truth than this, that I can do nothing of myself. Lord, this is the life that no unconverted man can live, yet it is an end that every godly soul presses after; Let it be then my concern to devote myself and all to thee. Make me more fruitful and more spiritual, for barrenness is my daily affliction and load. How precious is time, and how painful to see it fly with little done to good purpose! I need thy help: Oh may my soul sensibly depend upon thee for all sanctification, and every accomplishment of thy purposes for me, for the world, and for thy kingdom.
Okay, Hebrews 12:14 Brooks’ main text:
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
As I said last time the work is so vast that I will just dip in and share aspects from different sections. Tonight I will do the same but share from one section. Which brooks has headed as: ‘That We Would Labour After Holiness, Without Which There Is No Happiness’.
Even the statement itself is full of depth and truth. It is true, is it not, that only when we pursue holiness do we find any deep, meaningful happiness? All else is vanity isn’t it?
Brooks then shares in the section, that to pursue holiness will surely bring affliction and persecution. Let’s face it, who wants to sign up for that but it’s a fact of life for believers who would seek holiness and pursue righteousness.
Matthew 5:10-12, in Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It’s the progression of a believer from sinner to salvation to sanctification, and all that leads to persecution, before glorification.
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The more we seek holiness the more we can expect loss and hardship. Here are 6 random points from Brooks on this - which are all on affliction and persecution due to pursuing holiness.
In talking about this subject, I’ve often seen it as a means of blame and bitterness and excuse for poor behaviour, remember we are talking about persecution for righteousness sake. Due to pursuing holiness. Not due to anything else.
Firstly:
- Affliction and persecution has been the common lot and potion of the people of God in the world.
Know this: if you’re facing persecution and affliction, you’re in good company.
Brooks writes:
A man may have many faint and cold wishes and desires after godliness and yet escape persecution. But when a man is thoroughly resolved to be godly, and sets himself in good earnest upon pursuing after holiness… then he must expect to meet with afflictions and persecution.
The truth is some people seek God only provided it doesn’t cost them anything they have of value in the world.
Some want to be seen as godly but won’t pay the price for it. They can’t handle their flesh been ripped apart. So they hold Christ with a loose grip lest it cost them.
Secondly…
- Christ and his apostles have long since foretold us that afflictions and persecutions will attend us in this world.
It shouldn’t surprise us when we are faced with affliction and persecution. Some of us are way, way too shocked and surprised by it, that it flings us into chaos and all sorts of emotional turmoil.
John 15:20
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘a servant is not greater than his master.’ if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
If they didn’t like what Jesus said and persecuted Him for it, why expect you not to receive the same?
Just prior to that Jesus said in verse 18:
John 15:18
If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
To speak of Christ is surely going to cause serious offence. And that offended person will retaliate with venom.
Thirdly… (And I love this)
- For all the troubles, afflictions and persecutions that do befall you for holiness sake, shall never hurt you or harm you... Nor wrong you in your main and great concernments.
Meaning - no persecution will harm your godliness or your pursuit of holiness. No persecution you receive due to being christlike will ever harm you.
There is something truly blessed about those who pursue holiness and stand on truth and the work of Christ. God protects them. He covers us. It makes us more holy. It brings more faith.
Throughout the bible we hear story after story of God’s protection upon His faithful. Its why God could say to Joshua:
Joshua 1:6-9
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
It’s not a motivation speech, God is telling Joshua to remain holy and My protection will be upon you.
Does that mean no afflictions? No, it means you won’t lose anything that matters. In a holy fight you will never ever lose anything that truly matters.
Fourthly…
- ….that he who does not suffer and are afraid to suffer for Christ's sake, will surely suffer from Christ.
Brooks quotes Mark 8:35-36:
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Brooks adds:
He that shall attempt to save his life by crossing his light, by shifting the truth or for forsaking Christ, shall lose it.
Oh how often do we at times hide the light, avoid the truth in order to preserve our own necks? Isn’t it crazy that we do so much to avoid the wrath of a person, with such careless thought about the wrath of God?
Fifthly…
- Persecution does but raise up and stir us to more vehement and earnest prayer.
This is indeed ‘all things working for good’, this is why to pursue holiness is always a blessing, even in the pain, because it draws us to pray more.
Often our prayer life is never like it is except when we truly know only God can heal, can protect, can comfort.
Let’s face it, most of us will take any comfort before God, but not in afflictions and persecution.
Okay lastly….
- All the persecution that you meet with on earth shall advance your glory in heaven.
Remember what I read out at the start. Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It goes on in the next verse in Matthew and says: ‘for great is their reward in heaven’.
To pursue holiness, to pursue righteousness, to live it, to keep your light shining no matter what, is to store up treasures in heaven.
Amen.
Print