by G. D. Watson
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.
God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.
So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.
God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.
I have just found your blog and I’ve been blessed. I saw your name on “Slice” and came here. I have a new blog name Following Judah’s Lion and it contains some devotional writing. “You’ve got to want it” is one you might enjoy. I try and keep a balance between exposing the falling away and seeking His face. PTL-Rick
So is it Rick or Henry?
I found your blog, but I couldn’t find that post. Did I get the right blog” The address I went to is: http://judahslion.blogspot.com/
Hi Mike- i just found your blog via a common tag: “justification by faith”…it is so encouraging to find believers passionate about reformed theology.
//erik raymond
http://www.IrishCalvinist.com
Thanks Erik. Reformed Theology is the only doctrinal system that is bound to God’s glory alone and I believe the only one true to sacred scripture.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Mr. Ratliff, do you have any more books you are working on or have on the way to publishing?
Albert,
I am working through the planning of three seperate books, but nothing is set in concrete yet. I have taken a self-imposed Sabbatical from writing manuscripts since I finished Judge Not! back in February. However, it's time to get back to work. I wrote the first two books one right after the other and then started working on what became Let's Reason Together and The Pilgrim's Heart. I finished those three manuscripts in roughly a year with nearly non-stop research and writing. I took a month or so off then wrote Judge Not!. Well it's been about four months now and I do feel like I am up to it again.
One of the books I would like to work on is based on the conversation between Christian, Faithful and Talkative from Pilgrim's Progress. Do you remember what that converstion was about?
Another book I would like to work on would explore the differences between genuine Chiristianity and humanistic Christianity.
The third one is secret. I can't really talk about it yet, but it would be an expose' on a subject near and dear to my heart…
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Mike,
I tried to read your book but could only get the picture of your book…?
Walking the walk by Faith and Possessing the Treasure are published books. That means I cannot post them online without violating copyright from my publisher.
There are times I wish I had not had them published so I could get them online where people could read them without haveing to order them. I have written three other books, but I have chosen to publish them on my blog instead of trying to get a publisher to look at them. I find that when people read what God has me write it is far better than restricting access by having to buy a book.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Mike,
the other books you have written that you have published on your blog…are you not afraid that someone might steal your work and publish it under their name in a hardcopy (I don’t know if that’s a word) book?
Thanks for you concern Sarah. God impressed upon me that what I write is for His glory alone and was meant to be read by those of His chosing.Therefore, I step out on faith here and believe that God will use the messages He gives me according to His will and for His glory.
Indeed He will and in a mighty way. God bless you and your family.
>>Another book I would like to work on would explore the differences between genuine Chiristianity and humanistic Christianity.>>
I can hardly wait to see this one.
Lin,
That project has morphed into my study “The Compromised Church.” That doesn’t mean that I may not write a book on this same subject, but right now God has me working on my study of suffering from the book of Job.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Hi Mike,
Pray things are well. I don’t know if you’ve seen this new feature artcle, but something tells me you’ll like it my brother. “The Purpose Is Driving God Away” : http://www.apprising.org/archives/2006/07/the_purpose_is.html
Great post Ken! I read it and commented. It was very powerful. All, if you haven’t read Ken’s post, follow that link in his comment above. Very powerful!
Mike Ratliff, I know it is Gods Glory but thank you for interpreting His word for us. It has been Life changing.In your comment to another person on July 6,2006 you say that God will choose the people He wishes to read it, I am one of those people who God choose to find you web site.I am amazed at His wonders.Hope to see you in Heaven (have you got in great ideas about standing firm).
Personal note to delete. You must be one very busy blogger! I just found your site and it is packed!
One correction: “receive” not “recieve” in your quote:
The Pilgrimage Cry
May the Lamb that was slain recieve the reward of His suffering!
Blessings!
Gary,
Thanks for the correction. I actually copied that line from sermon by copying and pasting it.
However, I should have checked it. I’m sure you will find other similar errors in my posts. 
I type much faster than I think sometimes.
In any case, thanks for visiting my blog.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Dear Mike,
When I first read your comments on Slice, I knew you were filled with the Holy Spirit. Later, I found your site here. You are being blessed by God and are a precious brother in Christ. God bless you and keep you and may you feed many lambs in these last day.
Love in Christ,
Rachel
Rachel,
Thank you! I confess that I often feel like I am none of those things. God has me repenting so much that I wonder at times why He wants anything to do with me at all.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Dear Brother,
It is because you are being granted the gift of repentance that you are being sanctified and therefore able to be used as a vessel for our Lord. We will pray together that we both be granted the gift of repentance until we draw our last breath.
Love in Christ,
Rachel
Yes indeed Rachel!
I would appreciate a book [I don't know if you're taking requests
] on the subject of Suffering and Evil from a Reformed Theology perspective.
EI
Hi, I am a youth pastor,and believe that God can perform miracles thru people…i have 2 sons who are now in college,,,due to economic condition and my income,seemingly we cannot let them finish their studies,but i have the faith it won’t happen to my children,i dont want them to regret that they become a pastors kid..instead make them proud..so,in my own way,and i hope that God is with me..He’ll touch people to help us and become my son’s sponsor…my eldest son has 1 more yr in school the youngest has 2 more years..NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.you can connect with me thru our website.Thank you for taking time to read…
Danny,
Nothing is impossible with God. Our job is to conform our wills to His. I pray that God will give you the desires of you Heart.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
I never get on the internet, but I just came upon your site. I am sure God’s hand is in that all the way. I am looking forward to reading your articles and growing. I’ve been “very, very busy” lately and feel God is calling me back to a closer relationship with Him.
I love God for His faithfulness,mercy and grace!!
Wow! This is an awesome blog. i accidentally stumbled upon it trying to locate a scripture for a post for my blog. Do you enjoy John Piper’s ministry as well? I shall return.