DEVOTION for February 20th *A.D. 2024
Written and calendared by Charles H. Spurgeon.

PRAYER 10, Part 2 of 9: THE MUSIC OF PRAISE.

ANECDOTE 203: A Free Pardon.

FAITH’S CHECKBOOK: February 20 CONTINUAL GUIDANCE

- The Lord shall guide thee continually —Isaiah 58:11

MORNING: ”God, that comforteth [comforts] those that are cast down [depressed].”

—2 Corinthians 7: 6

EVENING: "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. "

—Matthew 4:1

A SINNER’S PRAYER

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PRAYER 10, Part 2 of 9

THE MUSIC OF PRAISE.

Oh! the joy of knowing that we are Thine forever, thine in the trials of life, and thine in the last dread trial of death, and then Thine in resurrection, thine throughout eternity.

We do therefore worship Thee, O God, not as a constraining nor under terror or pressure, but cheerfully and gladly, ascribing unto Thee praise, and power, and dominion, and glory, and honor, world without end [forever and ever]. [In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ] Amen.

(Attachment: PRAYER 10.doc)

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ANECDOTE 203: A Free Pardon.

A prisoner was taken out to die, and as he rode along in the death cart his heart was heavy at the thought of death, and none could cheer him of all the throng [crowd] . The gallows-tree [tree used for hangings] was in sight, and this blotted out the sun for him.

But lo, his prince came riding up in hot haste, bearing a free pardon. Then the man opened his eyes, and, as though he had risen from the dead, he returned to happy consciousness. The sight of his prince had chased all gloom away. He declared that he had never seen a fairer countenance in all his days; and when he read his pardon, he vowed that no poetry should ever be dearer to his heart than those few lines of sovereign grace.

Friends, I remember well when I was in that death-cart, and Jesus came to me with pardon. Death and hell were before me; but I rejoiced exceedingly when I saw the nail-prints in his hands and feet, and the wound in his side. When he said,

“Thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven thee,”

I thought I never saw such loveliness before, and never heard such music in all my days. Nay, [No, indeed] it was not mere thought, I am sure my judgment was right. Eternity itself shall never disclose anything to me more sweet.

My pardoning Lord hath [has] no peer nor rival. Oh, what a Christ [Messiah] is he who appeared to me, a guilty, condemned sinner, on the way to hell!

Blessed be his name, he bore on the tree [Cross] my curse, and shame, and death and

I am free.

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FAITH’S CHECKBOOK February 20 CONTINUAL GUIDANCE C.H. Spurgeon

If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: The Lord shall guide thee continually
― Isaiah 58:10, 11

- Y si derramares tu alma al hambriento, y saciares el alma afligida, en las tinieblas nacerá tu luz, y tu oscuridad será como el medio día: Y Jehová te pastoreará siempre ― Isaias 58:10-11

What aileth thee [What’s bothering you?] Hast [Have] thou lost thy way? Art [Are] thou entangled in a dark wood[s], and canst [can] thou not find thy paths [your way]?

Stand still, and see the salvation of God. He knows the way, and He will direct thee in it if thou cry [call] unto Him.

Every day brings its own perplexity [difficulty]. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the Lord is continual! If we choose our own way, or consult with flesh and blood [friends and family], we cast off the Lord’s guidance; but if we abstain from [reject] self-will [what we want for ourselves], then He will direct every step of our road, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, and every year of our life.

If we will but [just] be guided, we shall be guided. If we will commit our way unto the Lord,

He will direct our course

so that we shall not lose ourselves [get lost]. But note to whom this promise is made. Read the previous verse:

-If thou draw out thy soul [reach out from your heart] to the hungry.-

We must feel for others, and give them, not a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would wish to receive.

If we show a tender care for our fellow-creatures in the hour of their need, then will the Lord attend to our necessities, and make Himself our continual Guide.

Jesus is the Leader, not of misers [stingy, selfish, hoarders] , nor of those who oppress the poor, but of the kind and tender-hearted. Such persons are pilgrims, who shall never miss [loose] their way.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that You will guide us continually as we stretch ourselves out to meet the needs of the hungry and afflicted. Help us to be generous to the needy and give us peace, comfort and the blessed assurance in You Lord Jesus in Your name I pray, Amen..

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MORNING February 20

“God, that comforteth [comforts] those that are cast down [depressed].”

—2 Corinthians 7:6

─Mas Dios, que consuela á los humildes,─ 2 Corintios 7:6

AND who comforts like Him [GOD]? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort.

Like the deaf adder [a snake that doesn’t respond to sound], he does not listen to [cannot hear] the voice of the charmer, however charming. He is drinking gall and wormwood [bitterness], and comfort him as you may, you will only get a note or two of mournful resignation from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets.

But let God come to His child, let Him lift up his [child’s] countenance [face], and the mourner's eyes glisten with hope.

Do you not hear him sing—

Tis paradise, if thou art here;

If thou depart, 'tis hell

You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it.

"He is the God of all comfort."

There is no balm [healing salve] in Gilead, but there is balm [eternal life] in God.

There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-ROPHI. [God-HEALER] It is marvelous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the goldbeater [Goldsmith] and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks.

So, then, poor Christian, you need not sit down in despair.
Go to the Comforter, and ask Him to give you [comforting] consolation. You are a poor dry well. You have heard it said that when a pump is dry you must pour water down it first of all [to prime it], and then you will get water. So, Christian, when you are dry, go to God, ask Him to shed abroad His joy in thy heart, and then your joy shall be full.

Do not go to earthly acquaintances [friends], for you will find them [to be ineffective] “Job's comforters” after all; but go first and foremost to "God, that comforteth [comforts] those that are cast down [depressed]," and you [they] will soon say,

"In the multitude of my thoughts [worries] within me Your comforts [GOD] delight my soul [and make my heart rejoice]".

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EVENING February 20

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. "
—Matthew 4:1

─Entonces, Jesús fué llevado del Espíritu al desierto, para ser tentado del diablo.— Mateo 4:1

A HOLY character [one living a holy life] does not avert temptation—Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; [kindling to set a fire]— but in Christ's case, it was like striking sparks on water. Yet the enemy continued his evil work.

Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what flammable stuff our hearts are made of! Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Spirit, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial.

Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness and was tempted of the devil. Solitude has its charms and its benefits and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the devil will follow us into the most lovely of retreats. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation.

The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ was consecrated through and through. It was His meat and drink to do the will of Him that sent Him: and yet He was tempted!

Your hearts may glow with a seraphic [angelic] flame of love for Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean luke-warmness.

If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armor, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation [stopped tempting] . Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. [May] The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.

[In Jesus name, and for His sake, Amen]

A SINNER’S PRAYER: … FOR WHOSOEVER: [One and all]
Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21
Call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved … pray like this, won’t you?

“Lord Jesus, I’m a lost sinner and without You I am hopeless. I can’t save myself. Without your death on the cross for my sin debt I would be condemned to spend eternity condemned to Hell. I have been self-centered from birth. Please forgive me.

I realize that doing my best, being as good as possible, or being better than other people can never save me. . I’m guilty and sorry for each and every sin I have done and look to You to forgive me of them all.
I look to You, alone Lord Jesus to save me.
I call on You, Lord Jesus, right now to save me. You died on the cross for me, because of my sin and You say, “It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21.

Right now, just as I am, I call on You, Lord Jesus to save me, I trust You, to be my Lord and Savior from now on.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have forgiven me of all my sins. I ask You to abide in me and give me the desire to always follow You.
You paid the price for all of my sins by dying on the cross. Even the sins of the whole world.

Thank you, Lord Jesus that You loved me and died for me even before I was born and that You still love me now. I love You too.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that You have called me away from sin and death into the Life everlasting in Your only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Heavenly Father that you raised Jesus from the dead. He is ALIVE and in Him we are victorious over sin, death and the grave. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [Holy Ghost, The Comforter, The Spirit of Truth]

Thank You for saving me heavenly Father. With all my heart, thank you Father for saving me in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Allow us to share the joy of your new birth with heaven. Won’t you? Heaven rejoices over each redeemed sinner. Luke 15:7

The John Mark Publishing Company, P.O. Box 21, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693, U.S.A. or e-mail: dailyspurgeon@aol.com. Write us, won’t you?

You too can cast your cares on the Lord…

Call on Him. As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.. ...Psalm 55:16
Trust Him. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass ... Psalm 37:5
Come to Him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.. Matthew 11:28
Give Him the burden. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22]

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our aim is to be Christlike. We desire to fulfill the Great Commission in taking the GOOD NEWS of Salvation by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ [The Messiah] to every creature, making and baptizing disciples in the name of God the Father, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Ghost.

The Published Titles from Spurgeon that are included exclusively each day in the Devotion are:

· C.H. Spurgeon Prayers

· Spurgeon’s Illustrative Anecdotes

· Faith’s Checkbook

· Morning & Evening

These titles are selected from the inspired body of work created from the preaching and writing of Charles Haddon Spurgeon 1834-1892. He created an excellent legacy of gospel preaching and exposition and is known as the “Prince of Preachers”. Spurgeon has been and is today widely read with great benefit from the 1800’s to this present time. He is the beloved founder of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England (Still thriving TODAY through the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.) [Click to live-stream current gospel preaching in real time each Sunday from London by Dr. Peter Masters, Metropolitan Tabernacle pastor since 1970.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please bless Your disciples toward the winning of many souls, and help us to be loving and compassionate toward all who are in need, especially those in the household of faith. I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and for His sake, Amen.

Disclaimer: The John Mark Publishing Company does not praise or exalt Charles H. Spurgeon beyond the honor due him. He didn’t need or want it when he was on earth and would have no need or desire for it now. Our aim is to lift up and glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and to preach HIM and Him crucified.

Precaution: These Messages and prayers alone will not substitute for continual fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Neither do they replace personal reading, meditation, prayer and fasting over God's divinely preserved and eternal Word. (The King James version (KJV), known also as the Authorized Version (AV), is the preferred English Bible because its accuracy and fidelity to the Greek Textus Receptus [received text] and the Hebrew Masoretic Text) avoid doctrinal and editorial weaknesses found in many contemporary editions.

Prayer Selection by Spurgeon must not be offered as a substitute for personal, intimate fervent, heart-felt, prayer. It is intended rather, to warm the hearts of those who are in prayer seeking a season of authentic two-way, heart-to-heart fellowship and prayer with the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit. Read from the NT Book of Romans Chapter 8.

Preaching Preparation: Use the following links if you would like to read a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon from the same scripture you have selected as the text for the sermon you are now preparing.

New Testament

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Old Testament

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Editorial Support: [Bracketed additions] clarify words and expressions that are unfamiliar or not in contemporary (USA) English use today. No changes other than spelling differences between the UK and the United States English (USA) have been made to Spurgeon’s original, unabridged text. Scripture references are blue hyperlinks that open The full Bible text. (English: AKJV, Authorized King James Version]; Spanish: Reina Valera/Gomez) The mailing list is strictly confidential and will not be used or distributed in any way for any purpose other than to send this daily message.

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The Authorized King James Bible
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https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/

The above link is to search for specific words or Scripture references in the King James Bible (KJV) inerrant and infallible English Bible because it is providentially protected and preserved by GOD Himself through the only translation into English by faithful brethren from the established majority text MT from which the Greek Textus Receptus [received text] manuscripts of the New Testament was taken and the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament (Jewish Tanakh). These manuscripts are providentially protected, and frequently give greater glory to God when compared to variant readings of all modern translations from Modern Critical Texts based on inferior Greek manuscripts.

The established majority manuscripts avoid doctrinal error, inaccuracies in translation, uninspired editorial notations, variant or ambiguous readings taken from Codices Vaticanus, or Sinaiticus.

Copyright: The King James Version is distinguished by the requirement of Great Brittan that all King James bibles be printed by the Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s authorized printer. No one other than the Crown’s printer, is allowed print, copy or import the King James Bible into Great Brittan by order of the Crown.

In the United States there is no Copyright protection and the KJV is deemed Public Domain. If a new publication changes at least a 10% of an existing publication a lucrative Copyright can be granted. Therefore the NKJV and many other copyrighted translations. Only the King James Version New Testament is unique from among the over 100 English translations that follow modern textual criticism and only the King James is translated from the superior Greek Textus Receptus as its Primary time tested and self-authenticating Greek text Source.

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DEFENDINGTHE KING JAMES BIBLE by Millennium Bible Institute

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https://youtu.be/RL1px3GRfo4

This is fact filled video to present the essential truth for those who seek to learn about and use the providentially protected, preserved and immutable Holy Bible that is both inerrant and infallible and gives God the utmost praise, and the greatest glory due to GOD, HIMSELF, alone. Praise and worship are rightfully insisted upon and commanded in God’s inspired [God-Breathed (Spoken) Word from God himself. HOLY WORDS that were given by God through the Holy Ghost, word by word, to His Holy Prophets and Apostles and comprise all eternal (Matthew 5:18) Holy Scripture.

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HOW HAS THE MAJORITY TEXT AND THE TEXTUS RECEPTUS BEEN PROVIDENTIALLY PROTECTED AND PRESERVED?

THE INSPIRED, GOD BREATHED, IMMORTAL WORDS, WERE UTTERED, WORD-BY-WORD, TO THE HOLY PROPHETS AND APOSTLES, WHO WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST ARE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED IN HOLY SCRIPTURE THAT WAS WRITTEN WORD-FOR-WORD IS IMMUTABLE, INERRANT, AND INFALLIBLE AND IS FOR EVER SETTLED IN HEAVEN BY GOD HIMSELF IN THE SELF AUTHENTICATING WORD OF GOD, ITSELF.

Authorized (King James) Version:

ל Lamed

89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:89

Authorized (King James) Version:

21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21

Authorized (King James) Version:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1

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Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort

URL:
https://www.febc.edu.sg/v15/article/def_the_inside_story_of_westcott_and_hort

In 1870, The Anglican Church of England passed a resolution to revise the English Bible. The New Testament revision committee which finally consisted of 25 scholars (though only about 16 eventually attended the meetings) which included Westcott and Hort. The committee worked for ten years in the Jerusalem chamber, and these two scholars swept the Revision Committee along with them after work commenced. In fact, the “Cambridge trio” (Westcott, Hort and Lightfoot) colluded with others to dominate the meetings with their views of the text and to defeat any who opposed them. Their *letters reveal this conspiracy:

* Letters from close relatives are quoted in the Inside Story above

The only voice defending the Textus Receptus was Dr Scrivener, probably the foremost scholar of the day in the manuscripts of the Greek New Testament and the history of the Text. But he was systematically outvoted by the Cambridge trio and outdone by Hort’s powerful debating skill. When the revision was completed, the revision committee had altered the Greek Text in 5,337 places,

thus violating the original rule that had been set for the committee of not altering the Greek Text unless absolutely necessary to do so.

Link above, for The complete Inside Story of Westcott and Hort.
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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, let it be said that no matter how good any modern version of the New Testament is in other ways, it is clearly blemished if the work of Westcott and Hort is present in it. The presence of their work means that it is based on a defective text. Those who want to honor the Word of God must not promote the use of any of these versions by the church, not because the content of the version is evil in itself, but because the attitude of being contented to use a blemished version rather than an existing unblemished one, dishonors God. If God has taken the trouble to preserve for His people a good Greek text of the New Testament for 18 centuries, how dishonoring it would be to Him if His people now chose instead to change over to a version that is based on a defective text.

Let the biblical story of Nadab and Abihu be a lesson to all:

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled” (Lev 10:1–6).

– Published in The Burning Bush, Volume 4 Number 1, January 1998

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For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
-Psalm 119:89 Authorized (King James) Version

1 Corinthians 14:33 Authorized (King James) Version

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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