Despite our failings, weaknesses, disobedience, and acts of rebellion, He treasures us enough to send His Son to sacrifice Himself for us. We are His brave and triumphant children who follow Him into the river, unafraid, ready to face giants, smash idols, and receive our inheritance.
“Sinner” is no longer our identity. We have been forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness the moment we repent.
When we accept God’s love for us, our identity as His children grows stronger, and the power of God’s kingdom can be manifested in our lives.
“The devil trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”
Billy Graham
Don’t forget we have an enemy! Rather than being afraid of him, we can put him in his proper place… subject to Christ Jesus. When we are submitted to Jesus, when He is our all in all, when we pray in His name, the devil will battle us, yes, but he has to shrink away.
NOT EVERYTHING IS AN ATTACK FROM THE ENEMY! JUST SAYING...
It isn’t about trying harder. It’s about realizing the Holy Spirit will give us the power we need to live this Christian life.
Being filled with the Spirit simply means letting the Holy Spirit control us. When we ask God to fill us, we are asking Him to control our lives. In fact, the term “filled” that Ephesians 5:18 uses to describe the filling of the Holy Spirit also carries the meaning of permeation.
Before we were Christians, the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sin and drew us to Christ. And once we believed in Christ, the Holy Spirit sealed us. The Holy Spirit also will lead us, empower us, and fill us each day as we seek to live the Christian life.
Faith is the simple means of accessing that grace. These realities make God's promises certain to all who believe them, whether Jew ("not only to those who are of the law") or Gentile ("but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham"). This is how Abraham related to God's promises. Thereby, he became the spiritual leader for all who would follow His example: "who is the father of us all (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations') in the presence of Him whom he believed."
The Bible tells us the Lord will not allow us to be tempted more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13), and that He will provide everything we need to deal with each circumstance (Isaiah 41:10), if we rely on Him (Psalm 121:1-2). Therefore, it is so much more pleasing to the Lord when we respond to the obstacles we encounter: "Lord, you must have allowed this to be on my path because you intend to make me stronger. I trust in You -- bring it on!"
"Joy is the serious business of Heaven." — C.S. Lewis
THE ANGEL GOT PETER OUT OF PRISON, BUT IT WAS PRAYER TO THE LORD THAT GOT THE ANGEL."
"SOMETIMES WE MISTAKINGLY THINK BIGGER IS BETTER, BUT GOD HAS AN UNUSUAL SET OF MATHEMATICS. HE OFTEN SUBTRACTS IN ORDER TO MULTIPLY, AND DIVIDES BEFORE HE ADDS!"
STOP STANDING AT THE DOOR OF INDECISION AND MOVE OUT IN FAITH, DON'T BLOCK A BLESSING!
I'LL NEVER WILT BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE NOT TO WATER ME. IN MY BELLY FLOWS RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.
IF YOU TRUST GOD, YOU MUST ALSO TRUST HIS TIMING. SOMETIMES "WAIT" IS THE WORD YOU NEED TO HEAR!
Hypocrisy says that I can deal with my sin vicariously by finding it in my brother and condemning it without dealing with it myself, so that it gives me the sensation of self-righteousness without facing the pain of penitence." —Alistair Begg
"Those around us may not be able to tell what motivates us, but we can be sure that the Savior we claim to serve most certainly can." —Alistair Begg
Preflight instructions advise you to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. Jesus similarly exhorted leaders to reform themselves before attempting to reform others. Examine the marks of effective teachers, on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg:
"We don't muster up humility from our own resources; we depend upon the Holy Spirit to enable us to be humble as He conforms us to the image of Christ." —Alistair Begg
"One should not be preoccupied primarily and initially with the spiritual condition of others but should instead be diligent in examining himself in light of the standard that Jesus sets." —Alistair Begg
Most people enjoy a good story with a relevant message. Jesus, however, often told stories that made his listeners increasingly uncomfortable. Hear more when you study along with us as we begin our 'Encore 2023' series on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg:
"He is the source of all our treasures—and He is Himself our greater treasure." —Alistair Begg
"No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God." —
C. H. Spurgeon
"When grace takes hold of a congregation, then the world looks on and says, 'That is at least worth investigating.' And then we're able to tell them that this Lord Jesus Christ is a King who will reign forever and forever." —Alistair Begg
"All doxology, all praise, begins with who and what God is. It doesn't actually begin with who and what we are." —Alistair Begg
Are your prayers too small? Some people are reluctant to "pray big" unless they're planning a significant event or facing overwhelming circumstances. Find out why this is wrong as we examine Paul's doxology. Join us on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg:
"Comprehending the love of Christ is a matter of knowing the unknowable." —Alistair Begg
"There is no ideal place in which to serve God except the place where He has set you down—wherever it is." —Alistair Begg
Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God R.C. Sproul
“We may say too much in a single sermon, we may give a field of wheat instead of a loaf of bread.” - Charles Spurgeon
"God did not give us His gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted. Actaully, He offers it to us every day as a gift that keeps on giving to us everything we need for life and godliness." –– Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer, 5. “He who wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin.” — J. C. Ryle
"O how compassionately did His heart work towards us, that when He saw the arm of Justice lifted up to destroy us, would interpose Himself, and receive the stroke, though He knew it would smite Him dead!" - John Flavel. The Fountain of Life, Sermon VIII. Works 1:112
Knowlede strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. — C.H. Spurgeon “God will perfect his own beginnings, and subdue the flesh more and more, by the power of his Spirit.” — Richard Sibbes 9 ways we should read the Bible:
1. Prayerfully (Ps 119:18)
2. Meditatively (Josh 1:8)
3. Contextually (2 Tim 2:15)
4. Regularly (Ps 1:2)
5. Humbly (James 1:21)
6. Obediently (James 1:22)
7. Expectantly (Heb 4:12)
8. Reverently (Isa 66:2)
9. Persistently (Matt 4:4)
Dear Christians,
• Read the Bible
• Study the Bible
• Meditate on the Bible
• Obey the Bible
• Be transformed by the Bible
*Repeat daily until God calls you home.
Is this world dreary? Then think of the next. — Spurgeon This cannot be stated too strongly: From the very beginning, Christianity tied itself to history. The most important claims of Christianity are historical claims, and on the facts of history the Christian religion must stand or fall. — Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word, 32.
YOUR EVERY NEED IS ALREADY MET! DON'T DOUBT, JUST WATCH GOD DO IT!
"No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness." -John Bunyan.
Sanctification doesn’t happen by osmosis. We can’t starve ourselves spiritually and still expect to grow in the likeness of Christ. —John MacArthur
Believers are not hired servants supporting themselves by their own work but children maintained at their Father's expense -Horatius Bonar - The world does not believe the Bible, and the church does not obey it. -Leonard Ravenhill -
Oh, what unspeakable comfort is this, that I am not in my own keeping! 'The Lord is my Shepherd.' - John Newton was born 4 August 1725
A salvation from sin divorced from justification is an impossibility and justification of sinners without the God-righteousness of the Redeemer is unthinkable. – John Murray "Having our eyes fixed upon Christ, as Stephen's when he was stoned, is what will hold up our hearts and sustain our souls through even the most painful of Christian suffering." -
Jeremy Walker.
I say to every believer, that so far from being surprised that you have doubts and fears, I would be suspicious of the reality of your peace if you had none. —JC Ryle, Old Paths, Pg. 221 "Every believer is free from condemnation and that is simply because he is in Christ Jesus." — Charles Spurgeon
...evidence that we possess a pure heart is to be conscious of and burdened with the impurity which still indwells us. -A.W. Pink - Visit many good books, but live in the Bible. -C.H. Spurgeon -
“The best way to overcome the world is not with morality or self-discipline. Christians overcome the world by seeing the beauty and excellence of Christ. They overcome the world by seeing something more attractive than the world: Christ.” —Thomas Chalmers
When our will is subject to His will, when we experience the power of obedience we will live the abundant life Jesus promised.
Ray Bently
Nothing can bring a real sense of security into a home except true love.
~Billy Graham~
A slave doesn't have much difficulty understanding what it means to serve the master's will -- freemen sometimes do. A freeman thinks every decision he makes is of his own will; he foolishly discounts the effect of the sinful nature. Or as Paul puts it: "you are weak in your natural selves". So it doesn't matter if we are free men in our society or not -- we are still slaves. The choice is: Are we slaves to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, or to righteousness which leads to holiness?
If Jesus were on earth today, his message would be the same as it was during his earthly ministry — repent and believe.
Jesus’ time with His disciples after His resurrection seemed remarkably normal. Once, Jesus started a fire and cooked fish, which means He didn’t just snap His fingers and the finished meal materialized. He invited the disciples to come have breakfast.
Randy Alcorn
“As you listen to the conversations of the world, they are, for the most part, conversations of the deaf.” —
Paul Tournier
All sin brings death and destruction -- even the ones we think are placid or under control.
One day God will not merely snap His fingers so death ceases to exist. He will attack it, defeat it, consume it and swallow it. He began to do this on the cross and in His resurrection. Someday we’ll see the glorious climax of the story that never ends.
Randy Alcorn
Jesus was weary,
yet He is our rest.
Jesus wept,
yet He wipes away our tears.
Jesus was hungry,
yet He is the bread of life.
Jesus was thirsty,
yet He is the water of life.
Jesus died,
yet He destroyed the power of death.
Dustin Benge
“Thoughts invite us, more than words and deeds, to continue in sin, for thoughts can be concealed, while words and deeds cannot.” —
Soren Kierkegaard
...when you acknowledge God’s supreme role in your life and set your mind on Him, He enables you to be people of hope.
~Elizabeth George~
“If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” Daniel 3:17-18
When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.
~Oswald Chambers~
"He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God: himself." —C.S. Lewis
God is “all in all.” He therefore is, or ought to be, the only supreme, absolute object of our thoughts and desires; other things are from and for him only.”
~John Owen~
The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that in the latter day's knowledge will increase while men’s hearts grow cold toward the things of God. Knowledge is exploding! But not always used wisely.
Ray Bently
Sometimes what we want to do for God and what He wants us to do are vastly different.
God is leading us toward a life of fullness and blessing not to build our name and reputation but to reveal his good name so that others might know whom to follow and how to find true life.
The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be may be the pain you’re unwilling to endure.
“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’” —C.S. Lewis
·
We either speak from the hurt of our heart or the hope of our soul. Let’s be sure we check the birthplace of our words today. Because it matters.
Opportunity knocks once, but temptation beats on the door every day.
Greg Laurie
When we walk in faith with the Lord, we will turn to Him in our distress, and He is faithful to comfort and strengthen us.
The Christian has to live in the world, but he must draw all his resources from outside the world. ~Donald Grey Barnhouse~
He who knows himself best esteems himself least.
~Henry G. Bohn~
Comments