I Go to Golgotha

As I slept I dreamed a dream
A nightly vision; a heavenly gleam
For in this dream I thus began
To walk to the length of Israel's span

I had a dream. In this dream I found myself in the land of modern day Israel, alone, and in search of the dearest site to all mankind: the place called Calvary. I walked through deserts, through plains, through valleys. I walked through cities and villages. I walked past rivers and mountains. I walked past soldiers, tanks and guns; through defenses and military checkpoints.

Searching, was I, a place to find
A certain site dear to mankind
I sought to see the place of death
Where Jesus Christ drew His last breath

After some time I finally came to a city of many lights: flashing signs, neon attractions, casinos, cabarets... everything and anything to seduce the consumer. People were bustling here and there, too busy to stop and give me any aid in finding my destination. The noise was loud and constant and I wanted to leave. At last I found a friend who offered to be a guide, agreeing to take me to the two disputed sites of where the Son of God died.

The masses were engrossed but at last there was found

A friend for a guide to show me the ground

He led me outside of the city with haste

Away from the noise of that frenzied estate

And so we promptly left, my friend briskling leading the way. It was not long until we were away from the noise of the crowds and the great city. But then all of a sudden everything became very quiet as we began down a small dip in the terrain, through some overhanging trees into a ground obviously seldom disturbed. Only our footsteps could be heard apart from the soft breeze blowing through the trees. It was very peaceful, but I was suddenly gripped with anticipation. Then almost prematurely (I expecting a more climactic introduction) there appeared before us three religiously designed ornaments, the likeness of them crosses, with three ivory figures hanging upon them: a pathetic man-made souvenir of God's greatest sacrifice. My guide continued past, explaining the disputations of this being the location of Calvary; but I knew in my spirit this was the place where my Lord Jesus had died. I said to him, but probably without being heard: "This is the place." Then I wept.

He onward continued but there I stood still

I knew in my spirit here all was fulfilled

And though all of these things took place as I slept

I stood there at Calvary; I stood there and wept

Walking ahead I found we were on the top of a cliff; various cars were parked below. As I looked down the face of the cliff I could see the indentations that gave the appearance of a skull, called in the Bible, Golgotha, or "Place of the Skull." Here Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the world, yet it seemed sadly neglected. The affections of men were so consumed upon the things of this world that the cross of Christ was left almost entirely forgotten. Even the Church appeared to give little attention to the cross but to more flashy and entertaining techniques. I could faintly hear the laugh of the crowd rise from the nearby city. Walking back to the three crosses I found myself weeping; it seemed this place alone could move me to tears. Oh, how a love for Jesus rose in my heart as I considered His sacrifice of blood, pain and love!

Oh wood of wood which held my Lord

Stained with blood, thou blessed board

Held Him there by vicious cord

'Til He won His great reward

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." - Galatians 6:14

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." - Philippians 2:5-8

Bookshelf

This feature on TimothyMinistry.com inventories a collection of books that I currently own, with also three book recommendations every month. This page will be updated as more books are added, and you can also your input by posting in a comment (Note: this is for Christian books only). Be encouraged to check the bookshelf for reading recommendations and other information.

MAY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce - John Piper
2. Tactics - Greg Koukl
3. Christ Our Righteousness - Watchman Nee

Click here for all topical book recommendations.

THE BOOKSHELF:
12 Sermons to Young People - C.H. Spurgeon
5 Reasons to Believe in Recent Creation - Henry Morris III
A Brief Outline of the Christian Faith - John Calvin
A Call to the Church - Wang Ming-Dao
A Christian Manifesto - Francis Schaeffer
A Commentary on the Revelation of John - George E. Ladd
A Divine Forecast of Jewish History - David Baron
A Man Called Mr. Pentecost: David Du Plessis - Bob Slosser
A Man Called Peter - Catherine Marshall
A Man on Fire: The Story of Maynard James - P. James
A Biblical Standard for Evangelists - Billy Graham
A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs - David Bercot
A Handbook on Holy Spirit Baptism - Don Basham
A Passion for Fullness - Jack Hayford
A Preacher's Essentials - Greg Gordon
A Primer on Dispensationalism - John H. Gertsner
A Revolutionary Mystery - Spiros Zodhiates
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life - William Law
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 - Phillip Keller
A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd - Phillip Keller
A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards - George M. Marsden
A Spiritual Leader - Zac Poonen
A Theology of Exile - Thomas M. Raitt
Ablaze for God - Wesley Duewel
Acts of the Apostles, The - E.M. Blaiklock
Adoniram Judson - F.C. Bailey
Advice for Seekers - C.H. Spurgeon
African Harvest - Anne Coomes
Agape Leadership - Peterson & Strauch
Aggressive Christianity - Catherine Booth
All of Grace - C.H. Spurgeon
All-Sufficient God, The - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
All the Days - Vance Havner
All Things Were Made By Him - Cecil Forrest Hughes
Always Ready - Greg Bahnsen
Amazing Love - Corrie Ten Boom
America, America - Ray Comfort
America is Too Young to Die - Leonard Ravenhill
Amy Carmichael - Sam Wellman
An Apprenticeship of Faith - J. Edwin Orr
An Autobiography - Fanny J. Crosby
An Hour with George Muller - A. Sims
Anointing, The - Benny Hinn
Anointing of His Spirit, The - Smith Wigglesworth
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Vol. 1 - Michael L. Brown
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Vol. 2 - Michael L. Brown
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Vol. 3 - Michael L. Brown
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Vol. 4 - Michael L. Brown
Answers to Prayer - George Muller
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 1
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 2
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 3
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 4
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 5
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 6
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 7
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 8
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 9
Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 10
Antichrist, The - A.W. Pink
Apostolic Foundations - Art Katz
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, The - Leon Morris
Approaching Hoofbeats - Billy Graham
Are Millions of Christians Really Safe? - Chad Stendal
Art of Manfishing, The - Thomas Boston
Art of Prophesying, The - William Perkins
Atonement, The - Albert Barnes
Atonement, The - John Murray
Atonement and the Modern Mind, The - James Denney
Attributes of God Volume 1, The - A.W. Tozer
Attributes of God Volume 2, The - A.W. Tozer
Authentic Book of Christian Quotations, The - Robert Adams
Authentic Jesus, The - John Stott
Authority of the Bible, The - John Stott
Autobiography of Charles G. Finney, The - Charles Finney
Autobiography of George Muller, The - George Muller
Azusa Street - Frank Bartleman
Back Toward the Future - Walter C. Kaiser
Balanced Christianity - John Stott
Basic Christianity - John Stott
Basic Theology - Charles Ryrie
Be Filled Now - Roy Hession
Be Ready: 1st and 2nd Thessalonians - Warren Wiersbe
Be Rich: Ephesians - Warren Wiersbe
Beggar to King: All the Occupations of Biblical Times - Walter Duckat
Beginner's Grammer of the Greek New Testament - William H. Davis
Beginning of History, The - Bernhard W. Anderson
Behold His Love - Basilea Schlink
Believer's Prayer Life, The - Andrew Murray
Best of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, The - E.M. Bounds
Bible Characters - Alexander Whyte
Bible Sermon Outlines - Ian MacPherson
Bible Speaks to Our Times, The - Alan Redpath
Biblical Eldership - Alexander Strauch
Billy Bray: The King's Son - F.W. Bourne
Billy Sunday - Rachael Phillips
Biography of James Hudson Taylor - Howard Taylor
Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought, The - McGrath
Bless Your Dirty Heart - Hubert Lindsey
Blessed Hope, The - George E. Ladd
Blessing or Curse - Derek Prince
Blessings Out of Buffetings - Alan Redpath
Blood of the Covenant, The - Horatius Bonar
Blood of the Cross, The - Horatius Bonar
Body Life - Ray Stedman
Bondage of the Will, The - Martin Luther
Bone of His Bone - F.J. Huegel
Born-Again Mormon - Shawn McCraney
Born Crucified - L.E. Maxwell
Breath of Life - Patricia St. John
Brothers and Sisters, We Have a Problem - Nicky Cruz
Bruchko - Bruce Olson
Bruised Reed, The - Richard Sibbes
By My Spirit - Jonathan Goforth
Calvary Road, The - Roy Hession
Can Man Live Without God? - Ravi Zacharias
Caper, The - Monty Lewis
Case for a Creator, The - Lee Strobel
Case for Christ, The - Lee Strobel
Case for Faith - Lee Strobel
Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, The - Gary R. Habermas
Changed into His Likeness - Watchman Nee
Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger
Children of the Bible - Unknown Author
Choice Sayings - R.C. Chapman
Christ and Israel - Adolph Saphir
Christ and the Powers - Hendrik Berkhof
Christ Crucified - Adolph Saphir
Christ in the Old Testament - C.H. Spurgeon
Christ Our High Priest - Horatius Bonar
Christ Pre-eminent - W.H. Griffith Thomas
Christ Receiveth Sinners - Walter Marshall
Christ the Resurrection and the Life - Ebenezer Erskine
Christ-Life for the Self-Life, The - F.B. Meyer
Christ's Doctrine of the Atonement - George Smeaton
Christ's Coming and His Kingdom - Keith Bailey
Christ's Incarnation - C.H. Spurgeon
Christ's Paralyzed Church X-Rayed - T.J. McCrossan
Christian Behaviour - John Bunyan
Christian Book of Mystical Verse, The - A.W. Tozer
Christian Doctrine of Reconciliation, The - James Denney
Christian in Complete Armor, The - William Gurnall
Christian Perfection - Fenelon
Christians are Forever! - John Owen
Christian's Great Interest, The - William Guthrie
Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, The - Hannah Whitall Smith
Christianity for the Open-Minded - Michael Cassidy
Church at the End of the 20th Century, The - Francis Schaeffer
Church Before the Watching World, The - Francis Schaeffer
Church in China, The - Carl Lawrence
Classic Christianity - Bob George
Clue of the Maze, The - C.H. Spurgeon
Come Down Lord - Roger Ellsworth
Come Unto Me, All Ye That Labour - Thomas Boston
Coming Again - Jerry Newcombe
Coming Prince, The - Sir Robert Anderson
Commentary on Galatians - Martin Luther
Commentary on Romans - Anders Nygren
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament - Beale & Carson
Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, The - E.M. Bounds
Concerning Spiritual Gifts - Donald Gee
Confessions of Saint Augustine - Saint Augustine
Conflict of the Ages, The - Arno C. Gaebelein
Conscience - Ole Hallesby
Cost of Discipleship, The - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Counted Righteous in Christ - John Piper
Counterfeit Christ and Other Sermons, The - J. Gregory Mantle
Cross and the Switchblade, The - David Wilkerson
Cross of Christ, The - John Stott
Cross: The Vindication of God, The - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Crucial Questions About the Kingdom of God - George E. Ladd
Cruciality of the Cross, The - P.T. Forsyth
Crucified God, The - Jurgen Moltmann
Cruden's Concordance - Alexander Cruden
Crusader Hymns and Hymn Stories - Cliff Barrows
Culture Shift - Albert Mohler
Cure for Unbelief, The - Horatius Bonar
D.L. Moody - F.C. Bailey
D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership - Steve Miller
Daily Light on the Daily Path - Samuel Bagster
Daniel - H.A. Ironside
Daniel - Joyce G. Baldwin
Daniel the Prophet - M.R. DeHaan
Darkness and the Glory, The - Greg Harris
David: Shepherd, Psalmist, King - F.B. Meyer
Day Death Died, The - Michael Green
Day Nazi Germany Died, The - Beate Wilder-Smith
Day the Dollar Dies, The - Willard Cantelon
Death in the City - Francis Schaeffer
Death of Christ, The - James Denney
Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians - James Lawson
Desiring God - John Piper
Destined to Share the Throne - Ruth Billman
Disciplined Life, The - Richard S. Taylor
Discover the Book God Wrote - Bill Bright
Dispensationalism Today - Charles Ryrie
Divine Healing - Andrew Murray
Divine Unity of Scripture, The - Adolph Saphir
Dogmatics in Outline - Karl Barth
Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper
Double Cure, The - Martin Wells Knapp
Drummond's Addresses - Henry Drummond
Dying Thoughts - Richard Baxter
Dynamic of Service, The - A. Paget Wilkes
Dynamics of Preaching - Warren Wiersbe
Each New Day - Corrie Ten Boom
Easy Chairs, Hard Words - Douglas Wilson
Ecclesiastical History - Eusibius
End of Christendom, The - Malcolm Muggeridge
Ephesians - James Montgomery Boice
Epistle to the Romans - John Murray
Epistle to the Romans, The - James M. Stifler
Escape from Reason - Francis Schaeffer
Escape or Passover - Paul Benson
Essential Christianity - Walter Martin
Essentials of Evangelical Theology, The - Donald G. Bloesch
Eternity in Their Hearts - Don Richardson
Ethics - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Evangelism as a Lifestyle - Jim Peterson
Ever Increasing Faith - Smith Wigglesworth
Everlasting Righteousness, The - Horatius Bonar
Everyone in the Bible - William P. Barker
Evidence that Demands a Verdict - Josh McDowell
Existence and Attributes of God, The - Stephen Charnock
Expanded Mission of 'Old First' Churches, The - Bakke and Roberts
Experiencing God - Henry Blackaby
Exploring the Evidence for Creation - Henry Morris III
Expositor's Greek New Testament Volume 1, The - W.R. Nicoll
Expositor's Greek New Testament Volume 2, The - W.R. Nicoll
Expositor's Greek New Testament Volume 3, The - W.R. Nicoll
Expositor's Greek New Testament Volume 4, The - W.R. Nicoll
Expositor's Greek New Testament Volume 5, The - W.R. Nicoll
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Matthew - J.C. Ryle
Fair Sunshine - Jock Purves
Faith that Makes Sense - J. Edwin Orr
Faith that Prevails - Smith Wigglesworth
Faith's Checkbook - C.H. Spurgeon
Father Calling - Harvey and Tait
Father Ten Boom - Corrie Ten Boom
Feathers for Arrows - C.H. Spurgeon
Final Triumph, The - Zac Poonen
Finally Alive - John Piper
First Epistle General of Peter, The - Alan M. Stibbs
Five Secrets of Living - Warren Wiersbe
Fletcher of Madeley - Oswald J. Smith
Footsteps of Messiah, The - Arnold Fruchtenbaum
Forgotten Spurgeon, The - Iain H. Murray
Foundations of Grace - Steven J. Lawson
Foxe's Book of Martyrs - John Foxe
Free Gift, The - Ken Willig
Free Justification - Steve Fernandez
Fresh Power - Jim Cymbala
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire - Jim Cymbala
Full Assurance - H.A. Ironside
Fullness of the Gospel, The - D.L. Moody
Fundamentals Volume 1, The - R.A. Torrey
Fundamentals Volume 2, The - R.A. Torrey
Future Grace - John Piper
Future Israel - Barry E. Horner
Gaining Favor with God and Man - William Thayer
Gathering Storm, The - Timothy J. Dailey
Gems from Tozer - A.W. Tozer
George Muller of Bristol - Arthur T. Pierson
George Whitefield - Arnold Dallimore
Get the Word Out - John Teter
Getting the Gospel Right - Cornelius P. Venema
Glorious Freedom - Richard Sibbes
Glory in the Cross - Leon Morris
Glory of Christ, The - John Owen
Go and Sin No More - Michael Brown
God and the Nations - Harry Lacey
God Centered Evangelism - R.B. Kuiper
God Chasers, The - Tommy Tenney
God Doesn't Believe in Athiests - Ray Comfort
God in the Dock - C.S. Lewis
God Keep Our Land - David Mainse
God of Creation, The - Theodore H. Epp
God Who is There, The - Francis Schaeffer
God Will Be All in All - Jurgen Moltmann
God's Book for God's People - John Stott
God's Chosen Fast - Arthur Wallis
God's Got a Problem on His Hands - Earl Clampett
God's Greater Glory - Bruce A. Ware
God's Integrity and the Cross - Richard S. Taylor
God's Law and God's Love - Norman Anderson
God's Outlaw: William Tyndale - Brian Edwards
God's Plan to Protect His People in the Coming Depression - Wilkerson
God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew
God's Spiritual House - T. Austin Sparks
God's Way of Holiness - Horatius Bonar
God's Way of Peace - Horatius Bonar
God's Word for Today - Ole Hallesby
Goforth of China - Rosalind Goforth
Gold Cord - Amy Carmichael
Good Morning, Holy Spirit - Benny Hinn
Gospel and Kingdom - Graeme Goldsworthy
Gospel Driven Life, The - Michael Horton
Gospel in the Feasts of Israel, The - Victor Buksbazen
Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, The - Walter Marshall
Gospel of the Kingdom, The - Philip Mauro
Grace - C.H. Spurgeon
Grace: The Glorious Theme - Lewis Sperry Chafer
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners - John Bunyan
Grace of God, The - Charles Ryrie
Graham Formula, The - Patrick McIntyre
Great Compromise, The - Greg Laurie
Great Words of the Gospel - H.A. Ironside
Greatest Thing in the World, The - Henry Drummond
Guidance for Life - Randy Hurst
Gulag Archipelago, The -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Halley's Bible Handbook - Henry Halley
Handbook of Denominations in the United States - Frank S. Mead
He is There and He is Not Silent - Francis Schaeffer
He Touched Me - Benny Hinn
He Walked Among Us - Josh McDowell
He Won Them for Christ - Eric Hayden
Heavenly Footman, The - John Bunyan
Heavenly Man, The - Brother Yun
Heavenly Springs - Andrew Bonar
Heavens Declare the Glory of God, The - Henry Morris
Hell? Yes! - Robert Jeffress
Hell's Best Kept Secret - Ray Comfort
Helps to Holiness - Samuel Logan Brengle
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther - Roland H. Bainton
Hiding Place, The - Corrie Ten Boom
Hinds' Feet on High Places - Hannah Hurnard
Hippo in the Garden - James Ryle
His Glorious Name - Charles J. Rolls
History of Christian Doctrine, The - E.H. Klotsche
History of the Ten "Lost" Tribes, The - David Baron
Hodge on Romans - Charles Hodge
Holiness - J.C. Ryle
Holiness of God, The - R.C. Sproul
Holiness: The False and the True - H.A. Ironside
Holy Fire - Michael L. Brown
Holy Spirit, The - Billy Graham
Holy Spirit and Power, The - John Wesley
Holy Spirit in Missions, The - A.J. Gordon
Hope of Christ's Second Coming, The - Samuel P. Tregelles
How Good is Good Enough? - Andy Stanley
How Now Shall We Live? - Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey
How Readest Thou? - J.C. Ryle
How Shall I Go to God? - Horatius Bonar
How Should We Then Live? - Francis Schaeffer
How to Experience a Revival - Charles Finney
How to be Free from Bitterness - Jim Wilson
How to Bring Men to Christ - R.A. Torrey
How to Give Your Faith Away - Paul E. Little
How to Pray - R.A. Torrey
How to Prepare Sermons and Gospel Addresses - William Evans
How to Study the Bible - R.A. Torrey
How to Win Souls and Influence People - Ray Comfort
How to Worship Jesus Christ - Joseph S. Carroll
Hudson Taylor Volume 1 - Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor
Hudson Taylor Volume 2 - Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - Howard Taylor
Humility - Andrew Murray
I Became as a Jew - Shira Sorko-Ram
If - Amy Carmichael
If I Perish, I Perish - Major Ian Thomas
If Prison Walls Could Speak - Richard Wurmbrand
Imitation of Christ, The - Thomas a Kempis
Importance of the Local Church, The - Daniel E. Wray
In Him Will I Trust - Basilea Schlink
In His Steps - Charles M. Sheldon
In Search of Certainty - John Guest
In the Footprints of the Lamb - G. Steinberger
In the Likeness of His Death - Andrew Murray
Incredible Cover-Up, The - Dave MacPherson
Inner Chamber, The - Andrew Murray
Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, The - B.B. Warfield
Institutes of the Christian Religion - John Calvin
Instructing a Child's Heart - Tedd and Marcy Tripp
Intercessory Prayer - Dutch Sheets
Is Life So Dear? - Brother Andrew
Is There An Answer? - Roger Ellsworth
Israel and the Nations - F.F. Bruce
Israel from Conquest to Exile - Davis and Whitcomb
Israel in the Plan of God - David Baron
Israel, My Chosen People - Basilea Schlink
Israel's Inalieable Possessions - David Baron
Israelology - Arnold Fruchtenbaum
Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus - Joachim Jeremias
Jerusalem Sinner Saved, The - John Bunyan
Jessica's First Prayer - Harvey and Tait
Jesus Christ and Him Crucified - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
John Bunyan - F.M. Harrison
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion & Doxology - Burk Parsons
John G. Lake Sermons, The - Gordon Lindsay
John Wesley's Sermons: An Anthology - John Wesley
Journal of George Fox, The - George Fox
Journals of Jim Elliot, The - Elisabeth Elliot
Joy of Being Forgiven, The - Andrew Murray
Joy Unspeakable - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Just As I Am - Billy Graham
Justification & Variegated Nomism Vol. 2 - Carson, O'Brien, Siefrid
Kept for the Master's Use - F.R. Havergal
Kept from the Hour - Gerald B. Stanton
Key in My Hand, The - Gareth Evans
King James Only Controversy, The - James R. White
Kingdom of God, The - John Bright
Kingdoms in Conflict - Charles Colson
Kneeling Christian, The - An Unknown Christian
Know Why You Believe - Paul Little
Knowing God - J.I. Packer
Knowing God by Name - David Wilkerson
Knowledge of the Holy - A.W. Tozer
Lamb of God, The - Robert L. Reymond
Lamentations - Daniel - Joyce Baldwin
Last Christian Generation, The - Josh McDowell
Last Things, The - George E. Ladd
Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life, The - Evan H. Hopkins
Learning Through Leviticus - J. Vernon McGee
Lectures on Romans - H.A. Ironside
Lectures to My Students - C.H. Spurgeon
Let Us Worship - Judson Cornwall
Letters and Papers from Prison - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Letters of John Newton - John Newton
Letters of Samuel Rutherford, The - Andrew Bonar
Letters to a New Christian - Leighton Ford
Letters to Young Churches - J.B. Phillips
Leviticus - Andrew Bonar
Liberty in Jesus - David Mitchell
Liberty of Obedience, The - Elisabeth Elliot
Lie: Evolution, The - Ken Ham
Life and Diary of David Brainerd, The - Jonathan Edwards
Life and Letters of Henry Martyn, The - John Sargent
Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, The - Alfred Edersheim
Life Lessons from the Hiding Place - Pam Rosewell Moore
Life of D.L. Moody, The - A.P. Fitt
Life of God in the Soul of Man, The - Henry Scougal
Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Life's Ultimate Privilege - DeVern Fromke
Light and the Glory, The - Peter Marshall and David Manuel
Lincoln's Virtues - William Lee Miller
Living the Christian Life God's Way - J. Vernon McGee
Living Water - Chuck Smith
Looking Unto Jesus - Isaac Ambrose
Lord Our Righteousness, The - Obadiah Grew
Love Not the World - Watchman Nee
Love of Christ, The - James Smith
Love or Die - Alexander Strauch
Love Revealed - George Bowen
Loveliness of Christ, The - Samuel Rutherford
Luther's Small Catechism - Martin Luther
Majesty of God in the Old Testament, The - Walter C. Kaiser
Making of a Man of God, The - Alan Redpath
Man: The Dwelling Place of God - A.W. Tozer
Many Infallible Proofs - Henry M. Morris
Marching Orders for the End Battle - Corrie Ten Boom
Mark of the Christian, The - Francis Schaeffer
Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage - John Coblentz
Marrow of True Justification, The - Benjamin Keach
Martyrs Mirror - Thieleman J. van Braght
Marx and Satan - Richard Wurmbrand
Master Plan of Evangelism, The - Robert E. Coleman
Meat for Men - Leonard Ravenhill
Meet for the Master's Use - F.B. Meyer
Memoirs of Thomas Boston - Thomas Boston
Men and Women: Equal Yet Different - Alexander Strauch
Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
Message of the New Testament, The - F.F. Bruce
Messianic Secret, The - Christopher Tuckett
Mighty Manifestations - Reinhard Bonnke
Militant Evangelism! - Ray Comfort
Minister as Shepherd, The - Charles Jefferson
Ministry of God's Word, The - Watchman Nee
Minor Prophets, The - Charles Feinberg
Moments of Decision - Vance Havner
More than a Carpenter - Josh McDowell
More than a Prophet - Ergun and Emir Caner
More to be Desired than Gold - J. Christy Wilson, Jr.
Morning and Evening - C.H. Spurgeon
Mortification of Sin, The - John Owen
Mr. Jones, Meet the Master - Peter Marshall
My Conversion - C.H. Spurgeon
My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers
Mystery: A Lost Key, The - Marvin Byers
Narrative of a Mission Inquiry to the Jews - A. Bonar and R. M'Cheyne
Nature of a God Sent Revival, The - Duncan Campbell
Nature Out of Control? - Basilea Schlink
Navigator, The - Robert Foster
Never Perish - J.C. Ryle
New Covenant Unveiled, The - David Wilkerson
New England Primer, The - David Barton
New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism, The - David Daube
New Testament Deacon, The - Alexander Strauch
New Testament Development of Old Testament Themes, The - F.F. Bruce
New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?, The - F.F. Bruce
New Testament Holiness - Thomas Cook
New Testament in Modern English, The - J.B. Phillips
New Testament Order for Church and Missionary, The - A.R. Hay
Night of Weeping - Horatius Bonar
No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green - Melody Green
No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith - Fawn M. Brodie
None of These Diseases - S.I. McMillen
Normal Christian Birth, The - David Pawson
Normal Christian Life, The - Watchman Nee
Nostradamus: Attack on America - Ray Comfort
Not Guilty - James Buchanan
Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord - R.C. Trench
Obtaining Answers to Prayer - E.M. Bounds
Of God and Men - A.W. Tozer
Of God or Man? Light from Galatians - John Metcalfe
Old Evangelicalism, The - Iain Murray
Old Testament Bible History - Alfred Edersheim
On Being a Christian - Jim Wilson
On God and Man - John Calvin
On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons - Broadus and Stanfield
On the Road to Armageddon - Timothy P. Weber
One Body in Christ - Zac Poonen
One Heartbeat Away - Mark Cahill
One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven - Mark Cahill
Oneness and Brotherly Love - Stephen Kaung
Operation World - Patrick Johnstone
Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God - David McCasland
Other Comforter, The - Theodore H. Epp
Our Hands are Stained with Blood - Michael L. Brown
Our Guilty Silence - John Stott
Our Lord Cometh - W.J. Rowlands
Out of the Black Shadows - Stephen Lungu
Out of the Comfort Zone - Ray Comfort
Out of the Depths - John Newton
Pascal's Pensees - Blaise Pascal
Passion Driven Sermon, The - Jim Shaddix
Passion of Jesus Christ, The - John Piper
Pastoral Ministry - John MacArthur
Patmos: When the Heavens Opened - Basilea Schlink
Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story - Patricia St. John
Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free - F.F. Bruce
Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? - David Wenham
Paul, the Missionary - William M. Taylor
Peace with God - Billy Graham
Pigs in the Parlor - Frank and Ida Mae Hammond
Pilgrim's Progress, The - John Bunyan
Pioneer's of the Heavenly Way - T. Austin-Sparks
Plenty for Everyone - Corrie Ten Boom
Power from on High - Charles Finney
Power of Faith, The - Smith Wigglesworth
Power of Prayer, The: The New York Revival of 1858 - Samuel Prime
Practical Implications of Calvinism, The - A.N. Martin
Practical Wisdom of Proverbs, The - Louis Goldberg
Practice of the Presence of God, The - Brother Lawrence
Pray in the Spirit - Arthur Wallis
Prayer - Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Prayer - John Bunyan
Prayer - Ole Hallesby
Prayer: A Holy Occupation - Oswald Chambers
Prayers of Susanna Wesley, The - W.L. Doughty
Praying Hyde - E.G. Carre
Preaching and Preachers - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Presence of the Future, The - George E. Ladd
Price and Power of Revival, The - Duncan Campbell
Principles of Prayer - Charles Finney
Prison Letters - Corrie Ten Boom
Promised Land - Derek Prince
Proper Distinction Between Law and Grace, The - C.F.W. Walther
Prophecy and History - Alfred Edersheim
Prophecy for Today - J. Dwight Pentecost
Prophetic Interpretations - P.S.G. Watson
Prophetic Ministry - T. Austin Sparks
Providence - C.H. Spurgeon
Pursuit of God, The - A.W. Tozer
Pursuit of Holiness, The - Jerry Bridges
Putting Amazing Back into Grace - Michael S. Horton
Quakers in the American Colonies, The - Rufus M. Jones
Rapture? Sure... But When? - William E. Anderson
Rapture Question, The - John Walvoord
Rays of Messiah's Glory - David Baron
Reaching Toward the Heights - Richard Wurmbrand
Reading the Bible - Geoffrey Thomas
Real Smith Wigglesworth, The - Desmond Cartwright
Reality of the Cross, The - T. Austin Sparks
Reality: The Hope of Glory - Art Katz
Reasons We Believe - Nathan Busenitz
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood - Piper & Grudem
Rediscovering Expository Preaching - John MacArthur
Rees Howells Intercessor - Norman Grubb
Reformation in Scotland, The - John Knox
Reformed Pastor, The - Richard Baxter
Reigning with Christ - F.J. Huegel
Release of the Spirit, The - Watchman Nee
Remarks on the Prophetic Visions in the Book of Daniel - S.P. Tregelles
Renew My Heart - John Wesley
Repentance and Restitution - Jim Wilson
Resurrection: True or False? - Spiros Zodhiates
Revelation - M.R. DeHaan
Revelation of Jesus Christ, The - John Walvoord
Revival! - Richard Owen Roberts
Revival Among the Zulus - Erlo Stegen
Revival, God's Way - Leonard Ravenhill
Revival Praying - Leonard Ravenhill
Revival We Need, The - Oswald J. Smith
Revivalism in America - W.W. Sweet
Revolution! - Michael L. Brown
Revolution in World Missions - K.P. Yohannan
Revolutionary Love - Festo Kivengere
Right from Wrong - Josh McDowell
Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong - John MacArthur
Ring of Truth - J.B. Phillips
Road to Reality, The - K.P. Yohannan
Roaring Lion - Robert Peterson
Robert Chapman - Robert L. Peterson
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - Andrew Bonar
Romans: Verse By Verse - William Newell
Romans Volume 1: The Gospel of God - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Root of the Righteous, The - A.W. Tozer
Royal Insignia - Edwin and Lillian Harvey
Run Baby Run - Nicky Cruz
Saint and the Law - Horatius Bonar
Saint's Knowledge of Christ's Love, The - John Bunyan
Salvation Needed and Provided - Theodore H. Epp
Samuel Morris - Kjersti Hoff Baez
Samuel Morris - Lindley Baldwin
Sanctification - A. Paget Wilkes
Saved and Kept - F.B. Meyer
Saving Life of Christ, The - Major Ian Thomas
Scandal of Jesus, The - Vinoth Ramachandra
Secret of Happiness, The - Billy Graham
Sermons of Robert Murray M'Cheyne - R.M. M'Cheyne
Servant of Jehovah, The - David Baron
Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth - David Wilkerson
Seven Pentecostal Pioneers - Colin Whittaker
Seven Simple Sermons on the Second Coming - W. Herschel Ford
School of Christ - T. Austin Sparks
Screwtape Letters, The - C.S. Lewis
Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting - Derek Prince
Signs of the Saviour's Return - T.C. Danson Smith
Silence of God, The - Sir Robert Anderson
Sinfulness of Sin, The - Ralph Venning
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God - Jonathan Edwards
Sit, Walk, Stand - Watchman Nee
Sketches of Jewish Social Life - Alfred Edersheim
Smith Wigglesworth: The Secret of His Power - Albert Hibbert
So Great Salvation - Charles Ryrie
Some Call It Science - Henry Morris
Soulwinner, The - C.H. Spurgeon
Sovereignty of God, The - A.W. Pink
Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons - Mark Cares
Spirit of Christ, The - Andrew Murray
Spirit of Judgment - Watchman Nee
Spirit of Prophecy, The - Art Katz
Spirit of Protestantism, The - Robert McAfee Brown
Spirit of Revival - I.R. Govan
Spirit of Truth, The - Art Katz
Spiritual Authority - Watchman Nee
Spiritual Knowledge - Watchman Nee
Spiritual Man, The - Watchman Nee
Spiritual Warfare - Derek Prince
Spreading Flame, The - F.F. Bruce
Spurgeon: A New Biography - Arnold Dallimore
Spurgeon vs. Hyper-Calvinism - Iain H. Murray
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1 - C.H. Spurgeon
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2 - C.H. Spurgeon
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3 - C.H. Spurgeon
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4 - C.H. Spurgeon
Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5 - C.H. Spurgeon
Sermons on the Death and Resurrection of Jesus - C.H. Spurgeon
Storm Warning - Billy Graham
Story of Elijah Standing for God, The - Roger Ellsworth
Story of My Life, The - Oswald J. Smith
Streams in the Desert - Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Striking Incidents of Saving Grace - Henry Breeden
Strong in the Time of Testing - Basilea Schlink
Studies in Isaiah - F.C. Jennings
Studies on the Sermon on the Mount - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Supremacy of God in Preaching, The - John Piper
Supreme Priorities, The - Zac Poonen
Surprised by Joy - C.S. Lewis
Susanna Wesley - Arnold Dallimore
Symbols of Victory - Martti O. Haapalo
Table Talk - Martin Luther
Tactics - Gregory Koukl
Take Your Glory Lord - Mary Garnett
Tales of Persia - William Miller
Temple: Its Ministry and Services, The - Alfred Edersheim
Temptations of Christ, The - Art Katz
Ten Commandments, The - Thomas Watson
They Shall Expel Demons - Derek Prince
Thomas Factor, The - Winkie Pratney
Till Armageddon - Billy Graham
To Train Up a Child - Michael and Debi Pearl
Today's Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? - Walter J. Chantry
Top 100 Questions, The - Richard Bewes
Tortured for Christ - Richard Wurmbrand
Toward an Exegetical Theology - Walter C. Kaiser
Tozer Pulpit, The - Gerald B. Smith
Thankfulness and Confession - Brad Scheelke
Theocratic Kingdom Volume 1, The - George Peters
Theocratic Kingdom Volume 2, The - George Peters
Theocratic Kingdom Volume 3, The - George Peters
Theology for Everyman - John H. Gertsner
Thousand Year Reign of Christ, The - Nathaniel West
Throne of Grace, The - Horatius Bonar
Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot
Thy Kingship Come - David Mainse
Touching the Invisible - Norman Grubb
Training of the Twelve, The - A.B. Bruce
Treasury of David Volume 1, The - C.H. Spurgeon
Treasury of David Volume 2, The - C.H. Spurgeon
Treasury of David Volume 3, The - C.H. Spurgeon
Trial and Triumph - Richard M. Hannula
Triune God, The - Edmund J. Fortman
True Discipleship - William MacDonald
True Estimate of Life, The - G. Campbell Morgan
Truth Behind Left Behind, The - Hitchcock and Ice
Truth Endures - John MacArthur
Truth War, The - John MacArthur
Twelve Angels from Hell - David Wilkerson
Unshakable Foundations - Norman Geisler
Unveiling Islam - Ergun and Emir Caner
Van Til's Apologetic - Greg Bahnsen
Victory in Christ - Charles G. Trumbull
Vision, The - David Wilkerson
Visions Beyond the Veil - H.A. Baker
War for Mansoul, The - John Bunyan
Way of Holiness, The - Samuel Logan Brengle
Way of Life, The - Charles Hodge
Way of the Master, The - Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron
Way to God, The - D.L. Moody
Way to Pentecost, The - Samuel Chadwick
Wells of Salvation, The - John Metcalfe
Wesley and Men Who Followed - Iain H. Murray
What Awaits Anabaptists in the Last Days - Brother Boris
What Christians Believe - Emmaus Bible School
What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? - D. James Kennedy
What is the Gospel? - Roy Gustafson
When Christ Returns - C.H. Spurgeon
When Dreams Come True - Eric and Leslie Ludy
When God Moves in Revival - Festo Kivengere
When People are Big and God is Small - Edward T. Welch
When the Spirit Comes - Colin Urquhart
White Robes, The - Horatius Bonar
Who Moved the Stone? - Frank Morison
Who Really Has the Answer? - Spiros Zodhiates
Wholly Sanctified - A.B. Simpson
Why Revival Tarries - Leonard Ravenhill
Why Won't They Listen? - Ken Ham
William Carey - Janet and Geoff Benge
Winning Spiritual Warfare - Neil T. Anderson
Winter Afore Harvest: The Soul's Growth in Grace - J.C. Philpot
With Christ in the School of Prayer - Andrew Murray
Works of Josephus, The - Flavius Josephus
Words to Winners of Souls - Horatius Bonar
World Aflame - Billy Graham
Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World - C.J. Mahaney
World's Greatest Preachers, The - Ray Comfort
You Will Never Be the Same - Basilea Schlink
Young Christian, The - Matthew Henry
Young Church in Action, The - J.B. Phillips
Young Lions of Judah - Mike Evans
Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible - Robert Young
Your God is Too Small - J.B. Phillips
Zechariah: On His Visions and Prophecies - David Baron

"An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge." - John Wesley

Speaker's Corner Toronto

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there." - Acts 17:17

The above picture is of Speaker's Corner in downtown Toronto where I was able to deliver a message during my trip to one of Canada's most extensive cities of size and diversity. As noted in the itinerary, from June 24-25 I travelled to Toronto upon invitation from brother Greg Gordon and spent a blessed weekend preaching the gospel and attending a powerful service where I was so privileged to here a giant of the faith, brother Richard Owen Roberts, share his heart on the subject of revival. The following is an account of the trip, faithfully reporting the noteable occurances during my course:

First of all, meeting brother Greg and brother Ricky Earle in person was an absolutely tremendous honor which I continue to recognize and do miss them sorely. Both are dear Christians who love the Lord fervently and seek to serve Him wholeheartedly. I cannot more highly recommend both of their ministries as faithful and effective articles in the hands of the Lord and encourage you to visit their websites found at:

www.sermonindex.net (Greg Gordon)

www.repentcanada.com (Ricky Earle)

Greg's ministry reaches untold millions around the world by preserving and promoting classic preachers and their invaluable legacies of faithful service. I do not believe even Greg realizes the colossal impact his labor of love has affected in the lives of so many countless people. We give glory to God for the work He has accomplished in this brother. Brother Ricky's open air ministry reaches out to high school students in that pivotal period of their lives when they must choose between the Lord or the world. I have no doubt that vast numbers of young people have heard the gospel through the hours of service afforded by our dear brother, who preaches and distributes thousands of Christian materials all at his own expense. May the Lord bless them both for their part in the struggle for the hearts and souls of men.

The first day Greg showed me around downtown Toronto, taking me to the different sites of the colorful city. One particular place was a grand old stone building converted into a theology/philosophy bookstore with many aged books and authors. I enjoyed that very much. How I wish we had something like that in Fredericton, but alas! After having supper we met up with Ricky and spent the remainder of the night preaching on the famous or infamous Yonge Street, handing out tracts and talking one on one with people. We also had the opportunity to pray for some right on the street. Toronto is definitely a wicked place.

In the morning Greg and I studied the Scriptures together before once again meeting up with Ricky and heading out of the city to attend what we thought would be a service with guest speaker Richard Owen Roberts at the Faith Mission retreat center. Well, it was a service with brother Richard Owen Roberts, but to our delight it happened to be an old fashioned tent meeting on the Faith Mission grounds. Brother Roberts spend his usual lengthy time preaching on revival and the true meaning of revival. The presence of God was powerfully present in the meeting, especially when the dear white haired saint prayed a deeply heart felt prayer for God to send our nation a spiritual awakening: "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalm 85:6)

After the meeting we drove back to Toronto to continue the mission of preaching the gospel to the lost downtown. We went to Chinatown and handed out Chinese gospel of Johns which were so eagerly received that we soon ran out of books in a short amount of time. Greg commented how wonderful it would be to have someone preach in that area with an interpreter. The harvest is truly plentiful and ready to be harvested. It was then after this we headed to Speaker's Corner where the message featured on this post was preached. Speaker's Corner is a designated free speech zone for public use right in the middle of the downtown Toronto. This audio features only a segment of the electrifying time we spent there, but still captures some of the more dramatic moments that took place, such as the man who vehemently opposed the preaching, the opening prayer, and lots of engagment with the audience.

The man who was opposing was so aggressive that I could barely get a word in edge wise, so I had to ask God what to do. I felt almost immediately to just step back, be quiet, and let him rant. At this point he was in the middle of the circle firing off many claims such as "There is no God" and "Is anyone afraid of being struck by lightning" and it was obvious he had nothing to say and could not back up anything he was presenting. He eventually gave up and stormed out of the circle while a few people clapped in approval.

Some quotes from Speaker's Corner:

Man: If I get struck by lightning you're going down with me.

Eli: Evolution is not science. No one has ever seen a banana turn into a man.

Man: You've never seen a banana turn into a man?

Eli: No, but I've seen men go bananas!

I was also able to talk with a group of Spanish Catholics about being born again, a Hindu man about the Bible, as well as a group of young girls who fell under some conviction of sin. A few weeks later Ricky was preaching at the same spot and saw those girls and was able to talk with them. One of them said they were really affected the last time and had been thinking about what was said to her ever since. Ricky was able to continue to water that precious seed! Praise be to God!

The next morning it was time to fly home and I can truly say I was very sad to leave and still do miss both the saints there and the city itself. Toronto is an enormously immoral city, and if I am to minister anywhere I would want it to be in the most needy and godless places. I pray that the Lord would allow me to return to Toronto some day. Glory to God in all things, for His steadfast love, faithfulness and wisdom in guiding our lives according to His purposes.

And so finally, you can download the file below. Be advised, however, this clip contains course language and swearing. May God bless you:

Eli Brayley - Speaker's Corner Toronto

Lessons from the Life of Samson: The Lion and the Honey

"Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him." - Judges 14:5

At this point in our narrative, Samson travels south to find for himself a wife among the Philistines, but as we have already read: "His father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines." (Judges 14:4) The Lord was bringing this young man into his future as a judge of Israel; and as it eventually turned out, Samson would lead the Israelites for twenty years.

But on the road to Timnah the devil attempts to kill him before it has a chance to happen (for the enemy of God was much pleased with the occupation and bondage of the apple of God's eye, and didn't want Samson to spoil it). We read in verse 5, "...a young lion roared against him." Satan is the master of preemptive striking, and typically endeavors to eliminate opposition in advance of any real trouble. That is how it is in our own lives. The devil tries to suppress the individual with his basic arsenal of pleasure, worries and wealth, killing whatever possible maturation exists. Jesus likened it to seed among thorns: "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain." (Mark 4:7) God desires for you to bear much fruit for the Kingdom, but are you being "roared against"?

"And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." (Judges 14:6)

There are two things about this passage I would like to point out:

First, that Samson defeated the lion with nothing in his hand; that his weapons were purely of a spiritual nature. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) Without the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him we can be sure that Samson would have been torn to mincemeat in seconds before that ferocious foe. How many Christians are overpowered and trampled upon day after day by the world, the flesh and the devil because they fail to be filled with the promised Holy Spirit? They choose to take up a weapon in their hand, a carnal security, and lean not upon the power of God to win the day. Martin Luther wrote it well in this famous hymn when describing our enemy:

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe

His craft and power are great

And armed with cruel hate

On earth is not his equal

But although our adversaries are indeed mighty, the weapons of our warfare are indeed mightier, and well able to tear down every stronghold, silence every roaring lion, and rend every opponent of Christ asunder as if simply rending a 'kid'.

Secondly, and I notice this with great interest, that Samson does not tell his father or mother what he has done. After just ripping a lion apart with his bare hands, you would think he would be anxious to boast of such an amazing feat to anyone and everyone! Christians today love to boast; we want to have the prominent place at the head of the table. We love telling about our secret times of prayer, our donations, our Bible readings... Have we so failed to understand Jesus' warning in the first verse of the sixth chapter of Matthew? "Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." When I get to heaven I want the magnitude of my good deeds to be those which no one else has ever seen but God. Sadly, most people do not think eternally but temporarily. The act of killing a lion in such a way is far more extraordinary than the things most of us have to boast for, and yet Samson remains silent. This reveals a tremendous quality of character in the man that we may so often overlook.

"And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion." (Judges 14:8-9)

Some time later Samson returns and discovers a bees nest creating honey inside the carcass of the fallen beast, whereby he treats himself and his parents to a sweet dessert. This was certainly a pleasant surprise as honey was one of the few natural saccharines in Israel, commonly associated with the sweetness of the Word of God (see Psalm 119:103). What makes this even more special is that Samson knew God had promised Israel a land "flowing with milk and honey", and this might have been God's way of encouraging Samson and giving him hope by allowing him a small taste, or foreshadow, of the days to come.

God used the attack for good, turning the devil's scheme into an opportunity to bless Samson. "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20) Is there a raging lion in your own life? Do not despair or run away in fear, for if you stand strong throughout the night God will certainly reward you with His delectable honey when morning gilds the skies! And you will be able to bless others, for the greatest blessings come from the greatest battles; and when they taste the sweet anointing welling up from within they will wonder, like his parents, where you acquired such wisdom and virtue.

Having now discovered his strength, Samson was prepared for the coming encounter with the deceitful Philistines at the feast in Timnah which would ignite a long and bloody war between him and Israel's oppressors. It was all part of the unfolding plan of God...

Lessons from the Life of Samson: Are You Moved?

"And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." - Judges 13:24-25

At the time little Samson was born, Israel was under the subjugation of the pagan nation Philistia, who had prevailed against them for a long and hard forty years, and would continue to do so even after the massacre at the temple of Dagon. The prophecy given by the angel to the parents regarding the boy was that "he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:5) The wicked Philistines would remain a thorn in Israel's side even into the days of King David. Israel had sinned in the eyes of the Lord, choosing the carnal world over the holy and righteous God, bringing upon themselves this depressing scenario of national judgment. The Philistines were cruel masters who hated the Israelites and treated them with contempt.

And so Samson was born and raised in this environment of abnormality, not in the standard which the God of Israel had planned for His beloved people. The Lord had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, peace and safety, victory against their enemies... but most important and inestimable of all: the Lord had promised His divine presence to be with them; the glory of the Lord in the midst of His people. Now all these things appeared to be lost. Where was God? For forty years He remained silent; memories of Moses seemed so faint, the miracle at the Red Sea felt so far away. It is in this context that we find an intriguing and thought-provoking Scripture from Judges 13:25:

"And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."

Here is Samson, probably around 30 years old, seeing the condition of his home and family while knowing the Scriptures and covenant of God, and the Spirit of the Lord begins to move him: moves his spirit for sorrow of failure, moves his soul for longing after God, moves his anger hot against the uncircumcised Philistines, moves his eyes to tears over the desolation of his people... Here was a young man upon whom the Spirit was working. Oh, is the Spirit working upon you today? Do you feel the moving of the Lord upon your hard and fallow heart? Do we not live in a country of spiritual enslavement with masters more ferocious than earthly kings and princes? Oh Christian, is the Lord moving on your heart to grief? Pray God to stir us!

Notice now that Samson does not take any action at this point. This was not the time for brash prosecution. This was the time of God dealing with the man in preparation for His application. When God moves His people we can expect God is about to move. And so it is we find out next in chapter 14 God initiates the beginning of the fall of Philistia. Samson goes to find a wife to the south "but his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines." (Judges 14:4) This episode would end in the slaughter of 30 Philistines, the start of a devastating mini-war between God's man and the captors of Israel. It was also on the road to Timnah that Samson first realized his tremendous strength.

There are many of us who are not concerned about the crisis around us. This is either because of ignorance or indifference towards God and His Word. They care not that the people of the world are captive and that the people of the Church are crippled. Rather, they are enjoying their comfortable easement, having both a little bit of God and a little bit of godlessness. Unmoved and unaware, they will soon find out that this status is not acceptable.

But then there are those of us who long for the presence of God in our lives, who groan in hope for the manifestation of His glory, who see the world around us and are grieved by the absence of the standard of His purposes. These are those who are moved by the Spirit between Zorah and Eshtaol. Holy anger or sorrowful weeping... the yoke of bondage and the absence of the Lord is too much to bear in light of the glorious liberating cross.

Take courage, good Christian! Lift up your head for your redemption draweth nigh! These are but the signs of awakening; the heralds of deliverance to the ones in captivity. God is in the business of setting loose the oppressed: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

The Lord will always answer those who yearn for His deliverance. The question is: Are you moved?