I often think of the children of Israel in the wilderness. They wanted to go back to Egypt ( the world to us), they murmured and complained, worshiped the creature rather than the creator who is blessed, and because of it they did not enter the promised land. They all died in the wilderness all the adults.
OUR AGE DOES NOT MAKE US MATURE IN CHRIST
I LOVE THE PERSON URIAH THE HITTITE WAS AS A LEADER. THERE WAS NOTHING DAVID COULD DO TO SEPARATE HIM FROM HIS MEN. HE STADE WITH THEM EVEN WHEN IT MEANT HE WOULD NOT BE WITH HIS WIFE.
Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in God’s truth. Breathe out trust. The truth is that we don’t know what’s best for us. Sometimes what seems horrible and painful to us is what God is using to change us, grow us, and help us. Not everything is good, but we have to have faith that our God is good and will use everything for good.
Pastors need Jesus too. Pastors need pastors too. Pastors need friends too. Pastors need grace too. Pastors need prayer too. Pastors need rest too. Pastors need encouragement too. Pastors need family time too. Pastors need the Gospel too. Pastors are only humans too.
“Progressive Christianity” is often code language for compromising on old sin.
“During my years of teaching, I know that I have developed idiosyncrasies. I am certain that I am unaware of some of them, but one that I do know about is my invariable reaction the chapel speaker who begins his message something like this: 'Now today, young people, I'm going to be very practical in my message. I'll leave the doctrine to your teachers and the classroom - I just want to be practical.' By this time I have already tuned the speaker out, for he has made a fundamental mistake in disjoining doctrine and practice. All doctrine is practical, and all practice must be based on sound doctrine. A doctrine that is not practical is not healthy doctrine, and practice that is not doctrinal is not rightly based.”
― Charles C. Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize the deliberate neglect of his duty.
You don't want to be weak. You want to be strong.
But it isn't about being strong despite weaknesses. And it isn't about being strong after weaknesses are gone. It is about being strong in and through and because of weaknesses.
We don't always have to know what to say or what to do; just listen to the One who sent you. It's God's authority that authorizes us to speak on His behalf and not our own.
He is genuinely great who considers himself small and cares nothing about high honors.
~Thomas à Kempis~
I AM NOT A LEADER BECAUSE OF TITAL, I AM A LEADER BECAUSE GOD CHOSE ME. TITALS ARE FROM MAN.
Let's be genuinely thankful in our hearts for all that the body of Christ does. And go out of your way to show kindness and love to others, thanking them for who they are in Jesus and all that they do to serve Him.
The best definition of the world that we find in the Bible is in 1 John 2:15–16: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world."
Every temptation that you and I will face falls under one of those three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. This was true when Satan tested Jesus in the wilderness. The first temptation was to take stones and turn them into bread. That was the lust of the flesh. Then Satan basically said, "Why Don't You jump off this pinnacle of the temple, and the angels will catch you?" That was the pride of life: Go ahead and do this great thing, and everyone will see how wonderful You are. Lastly, Satan said that he would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for His worship. That is the lust of the eyes.
Devotion to God is the only acceptable motive for actions that are pleasing to God.
~Jerry Bridges~
A man once went to a minister for counseling. He was in the midst of a financial collapse.
“I’ve lost everything,” he bemoaned. “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve lost your faith.” “No,” the man corrected him, “I haven’t lost my faith.” “Well then, I’m sad to hear you’ve lost your character.” “I didn’t say that,” he corrected. “I still have my character.” “I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost your salvation.” “That’s not what I said,” the man objected. “I haven’t lost my salvation.”
“You have your faith, your character, your salvation. Seems to me,” the minister observed, “that you’ve lost none of the things that really matter.”
If Jesus is the preexisting one, the Creator, the Sustainer, the originator of the church, and the incarnate one who revealed the personality of God in human flesh, it only makes sense that He should occupy the most important place in our lives. He shouldn't be replaced or added on to by some ritual or regulation. If all the fullness is in Him, then all you need is Him.
No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness. ~Matthew Henry~
We are personally responsible for our own wrongs. We cannot blame someone else.
"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." - Gerard Way
How do you know if Jesus agrees or disagrees? You open your Bible.
Every moment is a miracle. Every breath is a blessing. Every day is an opportunity.
God's divine nature is within you, at the very center of your being. You are blessed and filled with light.
There is no holding pattern for believers nor can we live in a neutral state. We are either going forward or backward. We are either being renewed or consumed. Do not relinquish any more life territory to the enemy. Run from sin!
*We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.
When we minister the law to others as a means of developing a godly life, they also experience condemnation.
Holiness is not more by faith without effort than it is effort without faith. ~J. I. Packer~
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