When you are arguing against God you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all.” - C.S. Lewis
“Let us show our religion by our lifestyles.” — Richard Sibbes “The love of Christ will be the wonder, the study, and the song of all pure, holy intelligences through eternity!” — Octavius Winslow
“Get three great truths well digested both in your heads and hearts, and let the power of them be displayed in your lives, else the pen of the scribe, and the tongue of the preacher, are both in vain.” — John Flavel
“Christ is to be answerable for all those that are given to Him, at the last day, and therefore we need not doubt but that He will certainly employ all the power of His Godhead to secure and save all those that He must be accountable for.” — Thomas Brooks “We show we are Christians when we look with the eye of faith through all discouragements and clouds, and see God reconciled in Christ.” — Richard Sibbes
“As God's pilgrim people, we constantly need to hear the assurance of the gospel.” — Brown and Keele, Sacred Bond, 135. “Assurance will be a golden shield to beat back temptation, and will triumph over it.” — Thomas Watson “Let us justify the preaching and hearing of the word of God, by reverence in hearing it as the word of God, and labour to express it in our lives and conversations; showing that we are true members of Christ, that we are like Christ.” — Richard Sibbes Christ is the glory, and faith in Christ the comfort, of the gospel. — Thomas Watson
“Say not, O but my sins are greater than can be forgiven… For here thou wilt find, upon thy union with Christ, that there is merit enough in his blood, and mercy enough in his bowels, to justify and save such a one as thou art.” — John Flavel “We preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former… We rest not upon His first advent only, but look also for His second.” — Cyril of Jerusalem “Seek to know this love of Christ, though it is so vast that it ‘passes knowledge.’ Infinite though it is, you may experience its reality, taste its sweetness, and be influenced by its all commanding, all constraining power.” — Octavius Winslow “Let us not show our religion only by word, but by the fruit of the Holy Spirit, by love, mercy, meekness, and zeal. The whole life of a Christian, as far as he is a Christian, gives evidence that he is a Christian.” — Richard Sibbes “Dear Sir, Christ is the peerless pearl hid in the field, Mat, xiii. 46. Will you be that wise merchant, that resolves to win and compass that treasure, whatever it shall cost you? Ah, Sir, Christ is a commodity that can never be bought too dear.” — John Flavel
“What was ours he took into his own person so that what was his should belong to us, and thus that, in common with us, he might be both Son of God and Son of man.” — John Calvin
“As we go about our everyday lives, it is easy for us to… depend on our daily performance for our confidence before God… Yet our standing before God depends on Christ alone — Brown and Keele, Sacred Bond, 121.
“Only the body of Christ can provide the hope that’s found in Christ.” — Karen Ellis
“Legalism lacks the supreme sense of worship. It obeys but it does not adore.” — Geerhardus Vos
"Those little feet in the manger shall tread on the serpent's neck and crush his head." — Charles Spurgeon
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE, STOP LIVING A PROCRASTINATING LIFESTYLE! LAZY PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE LEGACIES!
PRAY FOR PROMOTION, BUT ALSO PREPARE FOR IT. WHEN YOU'RE HANDED THE BATON, YOU NEED TO ALREADY KNOW HOW TO RUN WITH IT AND WIN.
BE ENCOURAGED, EVEN IF THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN YOU, IT WILL NEVER BE BIGGER THAN GOD!
IF YOU WANT TO WEAKEN YOUR FLESH, AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRIT, LEARN TO FAST FROM PEOPLE, NOT JUST FROM FOOD.
Nothing hinders thankfulness more than pride. For a proud man thinks everything is due to him. —Thomas Goodwin, A Discourse of Thankfulness, Works 9:508 There are some who would have Christ cheap. They would have Him without the cross. But the price will not come down. — Samuel Rutherford I have ever found that when I have thought the battle was over and the conquest gained, and so let down my watch, the enemy has risen up and done me the greatest injury. —David Brainerd (1718-1747), The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, Pg. 196 "Salvation is not as the result of any good works which preceded it, for there were none." — Charles Spurgeon Truth is truth whether I experience it or not. The Lord does not need my experience to validate His Word. H.B. Charles Jr. Build beautiful churches, and adorn the walls with sound doctrine. Let them be houses of prayer for the nations, not dens of thieves - Adriel Sanchez
"You have either to believe in Jesus or die; there is no hope for you but in him." — Charles Spurgeon When you need peace in your relationships, your job, your marriage, worship the Lord, your Shalom. What if you are in a battle right now—spiritual, physical, legal, or work related? You can call on the Lord as your Banner of Victory, yet another of His names. Ray Bentley
"The Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27), & not for the Jew alone." -Arthur Pink. "Faith as a grain of mustard seed will bring salvation." — Charles Spurgeon
"Cultural engagement in preaching must never be for the sake of appearing 'relevant' but rather must be for the purpose of laying bare the listener’s life foundations." - Tim Keller
"All desire for God and all delight in him, die out where sin reigns." — Charles Spurgeon
Without being constantly reformed by the Word the church becomes something very different. We must always keep the church under the Word. —Martyn Lloyd-Jones
It was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the #Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes. -William Tyndale - The enjoyment of #God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. -Jonathan Edwards -
Other Bible-believing churches are not your competition, they are your family.
“There is one golden rule…: You have got to be honest with your text. I mean by that, that you do not go to a text just to pick out an idea which interests you and then deal with that idea yourself. That is to be dishonest with the text.” – D. M. Lloyd-Jones "It is cruelty to distrust the ever truthful Jesus. He has done nothing to deserve distrust." — Charles Spurgeon
It should be firmly fixed in our heart that the kingdom of Heaven is not payment owed to servants, but the children’s inheritance (Eph 1:18), which will be enjoyed by those whom God has adopted as His children. John Calvin
If the Lord calls us to be a bridge, we have to learn to bear in his strength the weight. And it hurts. And it's good. And the Lord equips. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield "Pride is at the bottom of most unbelief." — Charles Spurgeon
"There is nothing like faith in the sinner's Friend. He overcomes all evil." — Charles Spurgeon
"The cross is a resplendent display of unmerited, unexpected, unexampled love." — Charles Spurgeon
"A holy life is a voice; it speaks when the tongue is silent, and is either a constant attraction or a perpetual reproof." -Robert Leighton.
“God is mysterious, but God works every day.”-Tom Hanks
The world: “Be your authentic self”. The Bible: “Your authentic self is a sinner in need of a Savior. His name is Jesus.
"We are nothing; but God with us is everything." — Charles Spurgeon There is no other method of living piously and justly, than that of depending upon #GOD. -John Calvin - I have learned to kiss the wave that crushes me against the Rock of Ages. -C.H. Spurgeon -
God takes more care of us than we take of ourselves. You never heard of a man who numbered the hairs of his head. Charles Spurgeon
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis
"The very act of prayer is a blessing." — Charles Spurgeon May I whisper into the ear of some very quick, impetuous, and hasty people, that it would be greatly to their soul's benefit if they knew how to sit still? - Charles Spurgeon
GOD HAS YOUR BACK...EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T!
"If you dwell on the DIFFICULTIES too long you’ll start to develop SELF-PITY instead of SELF-DISCIPLINE. One changes NOTHING; the other changes EVERYTHING!"
Shift Your Position to Shift Your Transition.
If They Really VALUE You, They'll INVEST In You! Learn to Keep Company With Those Who DEPOSIT Not DEPLETE!
"ANYTIME THE ENEMY IS TRYING TO GET YOU TO QUIT, YOU'RE IN BREAKTHROUGH TERRITORY! STAY THE COURSE!"
Life is uncertain. There is much we do not know. But because of the Word of God, we know the only thing that matters —the Lord loves us. Let the storms rage, let the arrows fly. Come what may, we are loved. Chuck Smith
When we pray as if we really have a Father in heaven and are eager to come to Him like my grandchildren are to me, that becomes a totally different way of living and praying. Ray Bentley
I would to God that saints would cling to Christ half as earnestly as sinners cling to the devil. If we were as willing to suffer for God as some are to suffer for their lusts, what perseverance and zeal would be seen on all sides! Charles Spurgeon
"The general religion of mankind is 'do,' but the religion of the Christian is 'done.'" — Charles Spurgeon
We have a liberty to delight in earthly things; the 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is allowed, the 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 is forbidden. Pleasure is the sauce of life, to better digest our sorrows. It is allowed us, but it must be well guarded. —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:151
“Live slowly enough to be able to think deeply about God” - J.I. Packer
We meditate of God that we may love him and fear him; of sin, that we may abhor it; of hell, that we may avoid it; of heaven, that we may pursue it. —Thomas Manton, Works 6:144 "From every text in the Bible, there is a road to Jesus." — Charles Spurgeon There is no such thing as a great man of God, only weak, pitiful, faithless men of a great and merciful God. Paul Washer
God is more concerned with the state of people's hearts than He is with the state of their feelings. A.W. Tozer
“I sometimes wonder if all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.” - C.S. Lewis
Surely 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 relation[ship] is a talent, and you will be accountable for it, if you do not improve it for your master’s use. —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:125
"There will be three effects of nearness to Jesus: 1. Humility 2. Happiness 3. Holiness" — Charles Spurgeon
In souls filled with #love, the desire to please #God is a continual #prayer. -John Wesley - Laughter, ridicule, opposition and persecution are often the only reward which #Christ's followers get from the world. -J.C. Ryle -
God has given you one simple responsibility: to believe in His promise. You can enjoy the blessing of a relationship with God even though you may not pray enough, or give enough, or sacrifice enough because of your faith in what God has already done for you. -Chuck Smith
I feel myself to be a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin apart from his almighty love." — Charles Spurgeon
There, poor sinner, take my garment, & put it on; you shall stand before God as if you were Christ, & I will stand before God as if I had been the sinner; I will suffer in the sinner's stead,& you shall be rewarded for works that you did not do, but which I did for you. Spurgeon
When you are arguing against God you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all. C. S. Lewis
"Believe in Jesus and trust him and you shall never be made ashamed of your confidence." — Charles Spurgeon
"When we deal seriously with our sin, God will deal gently with us." — Charles Spurgeon
We are made like unto God, that we may live unto God. - John Owen
"Grace is the beginning and the end of the Christian gospel; it is the single word that most fully expresses what God has done and will do for His people in Christ Jesus; nothing is deserved, everything is freely given." - Gordon Fee
"The minister who does not pray over his work is a vain and conceited man." — Charles Spurgeon
"If you meet with a system of theology which magnifies man, flee from it as far as you can." — Charles Spurgeon
Sin rarely seems sin at first beginnings -J.C. Ryle - The excellence of the church does not consist in multitude but in purity. -John Calvin -
Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus affirm and celebrate sin.
suffering prepares us for God's grace that our lives might be developed spiritually. Jesus is the primary example of this truth. In our present verses, we see Jesus as the example of grace developing our lives.
When a person in the church body contributes according to the abilities given them, pride in the exercise of a gift should not be present. Whether in the human body or the body of Christ, there can never be a question of superiority, vanity or conceit.
"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."— Mark Twain
Jesus as our two-fold example of suffering and grace. First, He exemplified the suffering that prepares us for God's grace to work in our lives. Second, He exemplified how God's grace is to develop our lives comprehensively. Now, we consider Jesus' example of grace for our speech.
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."— Corrie ten Boom
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."— William Arthur Ward
Is it more meaningful to tell someone you love them or show them? I think the answer is both.
Fundamentally, the work of God's grace takes place within human hearts. "It is good that the heart be established by grace" (Hebrews 13:9). Yet, whenever grace is at work in lives, visible indicators inevitably appear: "When he came and had seen the grace of God." This statement raises for our consideration the observable nature of the grace of God.
“There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.”—Billy Sunday
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Oh, this is so hard! When the Lord does or allows something that breaks our hearts, it’s a spiritual wrestling match to still declare, “God is good all the time!”. Yet, trusting Him and His goodness is imperative for the believer. Let’s struggle and yet believe!
His Word is perfection, ever relevant, speaking to all issues, for all of life.
The passive wrath of God is a frightening concept. When we decide to dishonor Him, not listen, and go our own way… He let’s us do it and allows us to experience the consequences that come. Knowing Him and staying with Him is so worth it!
What if we chose to enter this season with only one goal: to rest in the presence of God and let His peace fill our hearts?
Whether you feel like it’s “the most wonderful time of the year” or the most stressful time of the year, slow down… Breathe deep. Rest in the presence of God. When anxiety hunts you down, inhale: I give You my worries and cares, and exhale: for You care about me.
If you’ve ever played the game of Monopoly, then you’ve seen the various strategies people use to win. Some people buy every piece of property on the board and hope to put their opponents out of business. Others save up, hoping they’ll land on green or blue so they can buy up Boardwalk and Park Place and put hotels on them. They can make a lot of money that way.
The problem isn’t money itself. The problem is the love of it. If money is the most important thing in our lives, then it will be the root of all kinds of evil in our lives.
God wants us to care about people who are separated from Him and intercede for them. He wants us to see them not as the enemy but as sheep without a shepherd—as people who need the Savior.
God is still looking for people to stand in the gap today to pray and proclaim His Word.
Maybe you think the way to reach your nonbelieving friends is to do what they do and simply blend in. You conclude that in doing so, you will win them over and they will come to Christ. The reality is that no one has ever been won to Christ that way.
We’re not called to be ambassadors of our own opinions. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ.
Evangelism is not a call to woo people away from the Bible-believing Church they’re already plugged into down the road to come join your church. Evangelism is the call to reach unbelievers and un-attenders with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Learn from those way smarter than you, and have more experience than you.
The world doesn’t need “jerks for Jesus”, but it also doesn’t need “cowards for Christ” either. Be kind. Be courageous.
"There is enough in the Bible for you to live upon forever." — Charles Spurgeon "Satan is sure to try to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer." — Charles Spurgeon
"It is our daily lament that we cannot love God enough." — Charles Spurgeon "Sin cannot sever you from his love; he loves you still." — Charles Spurgeon
"God has loved you long, he has loved you well, he loved you forever, and he still shall love you." — Charles Spurgeon "God, when I sin, make conscience bold to tell me of it." — Charles Spurgeon
"If you dislike certain portions of the Bible, rest assured that your taste is corrupt." — Charles Spurgeon
"I am greatly afraid that many professing Christians do not realize what a gross sin it is to complain." — Charles Spurgeon "Married life is not all sugar, but grace in the heart will keep away most of the sours." — Charles Spurgeon
"The gospel is all about Christ from beginning to end." – Charles Spurgeon "Look to yourself, and you will be damned. As long as you look to yourself, there is no hope for you." — Charles Spurgeon
“God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created.” - C.S. Lewis
“Forgiving can have one & be instant. Reconciling must have two & takes time.” — Adam Bailie
“To be assured of our salvation is no arrogant stoutness. It is faith. It is devotion. It is not presumption. It is God's promise.” — Augustine “Look with the eye of faith, and then you will see a spring in the winter of the church. The church is now abased and eclipsed, yet she will be justified; and it will be known that Christ does regard his church and people and children more than all the world besides.” — Sibbes
“Rejoice then in the present mercy, and long ardently to be with thine own Christ in his glory.” — John Flavel
“That is why we have hope that the heavenly inheritance is ours, because only God's Son to whom it was wholly due has adopted us as his brothers. Now if we are brothers, we are co-heirs with him.” — John Calvin “Pray for thick skin and a tender heart.” — Joel Beeke “The assurance that we are called of God, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, affords a safe and secure anchorage from which no tempest can ever dislodge us.” — James Philip
When we would be directed by another source, we should check to see how that input accords with the Word, discarding whatever conflicts (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). We live our lives based on what the Word tells us to do.” — Glorifying and Enjoying God @RHB_Books
“Consider your state. You are a pardoned sinner, not under the law but under grace, freely, fully saved from the guilt of all your sins. There is none to condemn, God having justified you. He sees you in His Son...” — William Romaine
No book better understands the nature of human beings than the Bible. Robert Rothwell
Don’t go where it is all fine music and grand talk and beautiful architecture; those things will neither fill anybody’s stomach, nor feed his soul. Go where the gospel is preached, the gospel that really feeds your soul, and go often. Charles Spurgeon
When we are surprised, shaken, afraid, but determined to follow the Lord wherever He takes us. Ray Bentley
It is a good morning exercise for us humbly and thankfully to consider of his continual mercies. For God’s ‘mercies are new every morning,’ — as fresh as if never tired with former acts of grace, nor wearied with former offenses. —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:158
"In selecting the sermon to be preached consider the people, not yourself." -Thomas Collins.
The mind will run upon that which the heart is delighted in. —Thomas Manton, Works 6:147
“Justification takes place by works and by faith—by the works of Christ and by our faith.” —Francis Turretin (1623-1687), Institutes of Elenctic Theology 12.12.22 HT
“A Christian is someone who’s more bothered by his ((sin)) than his suffering.” Burk Parsons “God wants your life. Not one hour a week, not 10% of your income, He wants you.” — R.C. Sproul
God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way. C. S. Lewis
"The expositor should not communicate his own central idea, nor his own outline. He is, rather, to teach the central idea, outline, and theme of the author. Failure to reflect the author’s theme, outline, and central idea is a departure from true exposition." - Donald McDougall
The #sovereignty of #God means that God is God; He does AS He pleases,WHERE He pleases,HOW He pleases,WITH WHOM He pleases. -A.W. Pink
Know that it is not the knowing, not the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man. - Thomas Brooks
“Forgiving can have one & be instant. Reconciling must have two & takes time.” — Adam Bailie
"Spend your time in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God." -Richard Baxter.
#Christians don't tell lies, they just go to church and sing them. -A.W. Tozer - The needle of the law must precede the thread of the #gospel. -C.H. Spurgeon -
Be prepared for Jesus Christ and what He wants to do with your life. If you attend a Bible study (and you should), be prepared each week in your study and in your prayers for your group. Simply have an expectant and prepared heart. Then, be flexible to move as the Holy Spirit convicts and teaches. Notice, I didn't say to be an organized person that has his or her agendas all set in concrete. Being prepared also entails being flexible to His guidance. So often we miss the power of God in our lives because we've shut Him out of our plans. Being prepared means recognizing that we're doing His plans, not ours. So listen and be attentive to His words for you. Be willing and open for all that He has for you.
Belief is not faith without evidence but commitment without reservation. ~Leighton Ford~
Jesus is not a god. Jesus did not become God. Jesus does not aspire to be God. Jesus Christ is God.
And though the assurance of sense be the sweetest, yet the assurance of faith is the surest assurance; for what you get in hand from God you may soon lose the benefit and comfort of it; but what you have upon bond in the promise, is still secure. — Ralph Erskine
We should employ our passions in the service of life, not
spend life in the service of our passions.
~Richard Steele~
War always will rage between the two great sovereignties until one or the other is crushed. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; to pretend otherwise would signal a victory for the powers of darkness.
by Alistair Begg
A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” He also listed off these telling “Rules for Self Discovery”:
1. What we want most;
2. What we think about most;
3. How we use our money;
4. What we do with our leisure time;
5. The company we enjoy;
6. Who and what we admire;
7. What we laugh at.
Tozer summed it up beautifully: all of life needs to be filtered through our constant thoughts and yielding to our Most High God.
We are never told to celebrate Jesus birth but we are told to celebrate His death.
Pastor Dennis Davenport
Promised Land people choose to trust God’s promises.
We serve a holy God, who is able to save our souls. When we get up in the morning, before we take those long leaps into our everyday lives, we need to take those short steps and get on our faces before God to worship Him; otherwise we will not be led by the Lord. Take time every day to reverence the Lord. The spirit which loses reverence for God turns naturally to sinning.
~John Hercus~
Here's a question to ask yourself: Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? A thermometer is affected by its surroundings. Depending on the temperature, it goes up or down. In contrast, a thermostat affects its surroundings. Unlike the thermometer, it controls the environment around it. Do you merely react to what is happening around you, or do you have some kind of impact on it? Are you changing the culture, or is the culture changing you? Greg Laurie
We have to always remember the faithfulness and justice of the Lord. He does not punish unjustly. He has given us His Word, with the blessings and the curses, so we can choose for ourselves, which one we will live with.
A God who could pardon without justice might one day pardon without reason.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
being obedient to our own plans, will not produce blessings.
Though no man merits assurance by his obedience, yet God usually crowns obedience with assurance.
~Thomas Brooks~
We all know the story of Job. I don't know of many people who suffered more than him, with the loss of his possessions, health and, worst of all, his children. Yet his faith remained intact and even grew stronger.
Corrie Ten Boom used to tell a story:
"When I was a little girl, I went to my father and said, 'Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.'"
"Tell me," said Father, "When we take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?"
"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."
"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need—just in time. . ."
Love is not fleeting, feelings are. Love is many things but fleeting is not one of them.
Love says "I will stay by your side when no one else will." Love says "I will walk with you through any circumstance, even when the outcome is uncertain." That's love.
When you both have the "no escape clause" perspective in your marriage, you're truly committed to working things out. This is counter-cultural for sure.
No matter what is going on in the world, you can turn to Him to find direction, comfort, and hope. When the news gets too unnerving, turn it off and tune in to the Lord in prayer and Bible study.
Are you in the middle of your own tragedy right now? I know it's hard but look around. Is there anyone to whom you can be a blessing? I know when we are sick or hurting when money's tight and it's a struggle to make ends meet -- that is when it is most challenging to be a blessing. But it is also the time the Lord is calling upon us.
Why in God’s Name do you want compliments? It shouldn’t matter to us if they curse us, or kick us, or kiss us, or what they do! If you’re in the Will of God, that’s the most gorgeous place on this side of eternity.
Leonard Ravenhill
True thanksgiving arises not in response to blessings given, but in God Himself.
"The chief business of a Christian is to follow Christ." -
Charles Spurgeon
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