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Judas Was A Preacher
Judas
was a preacher; nay, he was a foremost preacher, "he obtained
part of this ministry," said the Apostle Peter. He was not simply
one of the seventy; he had been selected by the Lord himself as one
of the twelve, an honorable member of the college of the apostles.
Doubtless he had preached the gospel so that many had been gladdened
by his voice, and miraculous powers had been vouchsafed to him, so
that at his word the sick had been healed, deaf ears had been
opened; and the blind had been made to see; nay, there is no doubt
that he who could not keep the devil out of himself, had cast devils
out of others. Yet how art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son
of the morning! He that was as a prophet in the midst of the people,
and spake with the tongue of the learned, whose word and wonders
proved that he had been with Jesus and had learned of him—he betrays
his Master. Understand, my brethren, that no gifts can ensure grace,
and that no position of honor or usefulness in the Church will
necessarily prove our being true to our Lord and Master. Doubtless
there are bishops in hell, and crowds of those who once occupied the
pulpit are now condemed for ever to bewail their hyprocrisy. You
that are Church-officers, do not conclude that because you enjoy the
confidence of the Church, that therefore of an absolute certainty
the grace of God is in you. Perhaps it is the most dangerous of all
positions for a man to become well known and much respected by the
religious world, and yet to be rotten at the core. To be where
others can observe our faults is a healthy thing though painful; but
to live with beloved friends who would not believe it possible for
us to do wrong, and who if they saw us err would make excuses for
us—this is to be where it is next to impossible for us ever to be
aroused if our hearts be not right with God. To have a fair
reputation and a false heart is to stand upon the brink of hell.
By:
C. H. SPURGEON
From:
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0494.htm
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