he grace of God is found in a person, Jesus Christ. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 8:9). Through His Son, the Father now proclaims His full message. "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). One of Jesus' titles is the Word. When He became a man, He was God's incarnate message, His Word to humanity. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." As the early disciples watched Jesus living His perfect life of godliness, they were looking at the glorious revelation of God's uniquely begotten (that is, virgin-born) Son. "And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father." His life was an overflowing demonstration of divine grace and truth: "full of grace and truth."
What is the magnitude of God's grace? How extensive are His resources of grace? So often we drastically underestimate God's supply of grace for us.
God is rich in grace. When He forgave our sins, He did so "according to the riches of His grace." Think of the bountiful measure of grace that was bestowed on us to remove our guilt and shame. God generously poured out His grace and washed away our iniquities. Yet, in doing this He did not deplete the treasures of His grace.
Jesus is God’s love manifested in human form. He is the Father’s way of saying, “I love you, I want to bless you, draw you closer to Me, and give you a life of joy, peace, and love.”
“We know that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.” —Romans 8:28 (J.B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English)
Maybe you’ve come through a fiery trial in the past year, or maybe you will have a fiery trial in the coming year. But know this: Jesus will walk with you through it. You will not be alone.
Youth is a relative term. If you’re fifty, someone who is fifteen might think of you as old. But to someone who is ninety, you’re rather young. Everyone will be a year older next year. And we’re making decisions today, in January, that will play out by next Christmas
The Bible tells us to lay the foundation properly when we’re young. And that is what Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel did.
Let’s choose together to take one step forward today.
Not prepared for that thing you want to do or feel called by God to do? Welcome to the club! Feeling afraid or stuck? That’s pretty normal. It’s what you do from here… where you are. Start!
As you spend time with God in His Word, reading and listening in the unique way He made you, you’ll discover more and more about who He is.
We all need the voice of God in our everyday lives. Just praying when we have a need isn’t enough. Just piping up when it’s convenient for us doesn’t build an intimate relationship. That’s what we need with Him — intimacy!
For us, there is more grace available in the heart of God than there is water in all of the oceans of the world! Truly, no matter how much grace we have already discovered in Christ, we have only begun our search.
Bob Hoekstra
Where are you? No matter what you've done, no matter how far you've strayed from His perfect plan for your life, He is always in pursuit of you. We come into this world lost, separated from God, wandering around looking for something, and yet not even sure what that something is. All you have to do is come out from hiding and say...Here I am, Lord.
From Genesis through Revelation, we see that plan unfurl right before our eyes.
If you have believed the enemy's lies that you are not good enough, totally worthless, would be happy if..., etc. and are ready to begin living in victory by believing God's truth, Then pray right now and ask for forgiveness.
Before you launch out into spiritual battle, give attention to the
basics, the foundations of Christian living – who Jesus is and what
He has done for you. Building on those foundations explained from
Ephesians 1:1 to 6:9, then we come the important subject of
spiritual battle – but not before.
By David Guzik
Our wholeness of life comes from His fullness. Wherever we are in our spiritual pilgrimage, progress has come through receiving by faith from the fullness of His grace. Whatever remains to be accomplished must transpire in the same manner, receiving more fully of His fullness. Yes, daily Christian living is to be "grace upon grace"—upon grace, upon grace, upon grace—until we stand face to face someday with our Lord of grace!
See my note: A Fresh start in my own words.
Paul the apostle encourages us to "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16). It's easy to get into a rut, isn't it? It's easy to lose perspective and become slaves to the "urgent," rather than servants of the Almighty.
But 2011 doesn't have to be that way. May we treat every day with Jesus as a "new year's day" -- a brand new opportunity to leave the old things behind and walk in the newness of life that only He offers. May we be people filled with the Holy Spirit who "speak the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). And may we fall more in love with Jesus this year as we fall more in love with His Word.
We live in a broken world full of broken people. But isn't it comforting to know God isn't ever broken? He isn't ever caught off guard, taken by surprise, or shocked by what happens next.
He can take our worst and add His best. We just have to make the choice to stay with Him and keep following Him through it all.
Jesus’ mission was to make disciples, learners who will take Him and His Kingdom with seriousness. Popular cultural religion often degenerates to a casual item of curiosity. But there’s a proportionate relationship between experiencing God’s blessings and taking Him seriously. Those who treasure His ways and search Him out to follow Him—to become His disciples.
When Jesus touches you, He brings love, healing, deliverance, power, and life. He wants to give you all those things. He wants to bring what you need and what you long for. He wants to heal your wounds, fill you with His love, deliver you from the power of darkness. Chuck Smith
Ignorance of God’s Word is never an excuse.
The learning of the Christian ought to begin with the fear of God.
~Thomas Cranmer~
Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. When grace happens, it’s not a nice compliment from God we receive but a new heart. Give your heart to Christ, and he returns the favor. When grace happens, Christ enters. “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”
The holiday has passed, but the season of God's favor remains.
Sometimes God calms the storm; sometimes He sustains you in the midst of the storm.
If you want to be a wise person and live a wise life, you will follow the life-governing principles that God has already revealed in Scripture. Let's call it God's general will. If you know God's general will, you'll find that His specific, particular will, will just take care of itself.
To do so no more is the truest repentance.
~Martin Luther~
You know, that day will come when it is just you and Jesus in His throne room in heaven. Everything else will fade away, and it's just going to be you and Jesus, face to face. (For those who've put their faith in Jesus Christ, it's going to be a wonderful day, isn't it?) Since we're going to see Him face to face some day (soon!), let me encourage you to get to know Him right now. Spend time in His Word seeking wisdom and guidance from above, not from things of this earth. Spend time in prayer, communicating and interacting with Him. He wants to change your life and be involved in everything you're going through. He wants to teach you right now. Listen intently to Him and talk with Him.
In Him we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable [unfathomable] riches of Christ. (Ephesians 1:7; 2:7; 3:8)
God created me -- and you -- to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion -- namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples.
"If you believe that our God created the heavens and the earth, anything else is possible to believe. He is the God that can do anything." ~ Kay Smith
"My goal is to translate response into results. Some teachers teach for others to learn. That's not me. Some teachers teach for others to accomplish. That is me." -- Jim Rohn
How long will you continue to forsake your destiny because you are so fixated on your history? Its time to move past your past. . . . .
One of the most beautiful aspects of marriage is longevity. Nothing replaces time; longevity can't be fabricated. The thing about time is that it takes patience, fortitude, and a total lack of escape routes.
We've experienced many "give up" moments in our marriage. It was in those times that our commitment -- our covenant -- sustained our love. Surely we'll experience moments like that in the future, but our commitment is sure. When the feelings of love are sparse, we'll cling to each other in a different way. Our love will look more like patience than romance, and our commitment will anchor us through the storm.
In marriage, you must burn the backup plans they can't exist. This approach forces you to look to each other for reconciliation when times get hard, instead of elsewhere for a way out.
Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world.
We will always be battered in this life. Physical limitations. Cruel people. Spiritual battles. But God is with us. He promises never to abandon us. And He renews our spirits even during the struggles. We can keep going in this life and look with anticipation to the next.
It may not be a lot, but do what you can.
Every once in a while we can be susceptible to the deception of the world. We might even question the authority of God's Word in our lives. That is until we stop for a moment to remember all He has done for us and changed in our lives. Both the internal and external miracles. Take some time now to consider what God has done for you. All the times He has provided comfort and peace, resolved conflict, solved crisis, and restored joy.
For us, there is more grace available in the heart of God than there is water in all of the oceans of the world! Truly, no matter how much grace we have already discovered in Christ, we have only begun our search.
Bob Hoekstra
Remember that you and your spouse started out as friends.
That friendship can sustain you when feelings of romance come and go—and when you're flustered and frustrated.
Nurture your friendship by laughing together, encouraging one another, listening intently, and sharing yourselves transparently.
God wants us to know His grace. He wants us to learn about it, and then experience it at work in our lives. Grace has rightly been described as an "unmerited favor." The acronym, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" catches more of its majesty. Grace is God freely providing for us (as we trust in the work of His Son) all that we will ever need, all that we will ever yearn for, all that He has commanded us to walk in and become realities that we could never produce on our own, could never earn, and could never deserve. Grace offers what every human desperately needs, but what God alone can provide.
The context in which worship is most abundantly realized is within the church—not ornate buildings, entertaining experiences, or worship liturgies, but God’s gathered people.
Dustin Benge
There is no secular work.
If we are God’s people, then our work is ministry.
Jason Robinson
Jesus didn’t let cultural norms, political correctness, or social status dictate His relationships with people.
He ate with sinners.
He touched lepers.
He spent time with outcasts.
Jesus didn’t require people to change before coming to Him, but after meeting Him, they changed!
Dustin Benge
You are not rejected.
YOU ARE CHOSEN.
You are not worthless.
YOU ARE PRICELESS.
You are not condemned.
YOU ARE REDEEMED.
You are not guilty.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN.
You are not lost.
YOU ARE FOUND.
Jason Robinson
“We know that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.” —Romans 8:28
J.B. Phillips
Most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written and preached.
~Jan Hus~
A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
You must realize that if Satan has a bold strategy to overpower you, you should use your fervent prayers as a bold, strategic weapon to overcome and have victory through Christ Jesus.
To win the fight, you have to have the right strategy and the right resources, because victories don’t come by accident.
— From War Room
God doesn’t work through us because we’re flawless; rather, He works through us in spite of our imperfections.
~A.W. Tozer~
It is sad to see that so many Christians cannot see the danger of turning to men who do not know God to teach them about Theology Proper and Christology.
The simplest true Christian knows more truth than the most accomplished secular philosopher. Samuel Coleridge
Growing in grace is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies. A.W. Pink
The highest form of selfishness is that of the man who is content to go to heaven alone. J.C. Ryle
Prayer is the mightiest weapon that God has placed in our hands. J.C. Ryle
A person with an increasingly grateful heart is one with a decreasingly complaining mouth. Burk Parsons
The cross stands high above the opinions of men, and to that cross all opinions must come at last for judgement. A.W. Tozer
There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things. D.L. Moody
Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice. A.W. Tozer
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” - C.S. Lewis
“It is not your business to succeed, but to do right; when you have done so, the rest lies with God.” - C.S. Lewis
“Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.” — Charles Spurgeon
“Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, You are the present portion of Your people, favor us this year with such a sense of Your preciousness that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in You.” — Charles Spurgeon
“To be with Jesus in the rest, which remains for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss.” — Charles Spurgeon
“Commit the keeping of your souls to God. Indeed, he only can keep our souls. We cannot keep them ourselves; neither can anything else in the world.” — Richard Sibbes
“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives.” — Charles H Spurgeon
I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, and I am not what I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not what I once was. —John Newton
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. — Westminster Shorter Catechism 24
"Our hearers should never be ignorant of the imputation of Christ's righteousness on their behalf as the sole grounds for their acceptance before God." –– Mike Fabarez, Preaching That Changes Lives, 125.
If you are sorrowing, suffering, weary, or burdened, receive this blessing from God’s own mouth, “I will bless you.” If you are poor, despised, or slandered, this blessing is not shortened. Take it with you, and go on your way rejoicing. Spurgeon
Sometimes during trials we focus so intently on our experience that we forget to focus on God. David Jeremiah
How some people define and defend the Trinity leaves them open to the accusation that the Trinity is based upon Greek philosophy instead a of Scripture.
We may have some common privilege of being trained up in the knowledge of God’s will, but we have not the personal and particular benefits of the covenant of grace till we find it imprinted upon our hearts. —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:287
The law is an enemy to them that count it an enemy, and a friend to them that count it a friend. —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:288
The moment that a church despises the word of God, then God will despise that church. Charles Spurgeon
"If you have no wish to bring others to heaven, you are not going there yourself." — Charles Spurgeon
"Sin and sorrow cannot be divorced, and holiness and happiness cannot be separated." — Charles Spurgeon
We have not passed this way heretofore, but the Lord Jesus has. It is all untrodden and unknown ground to us, but He knows it all by personal experience. Frances Havergal
To all who are weary, frightened, or unsure of the future, Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” and “Follow Me.” Ray Bentley
"He must die, or we must die, or justice must die." — Charles Spurgeon
A student is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books which he has merely skimmed. Charles Spurgeon
"If you do not have something better than your own goodness, you will never get to heaven." — Charles Spurgeon
He who talks for ever about himself has a foolish subject and is likely to weary all around him. Charles Spurgeon
To live upon the praises of others is to feed on the air. Charles Spurgeon
"Evil things are easy things." — Charles Spurgeon
We know that darkness rules everywhere, but it is #God alone... that brings light out of darkness -John Calvin -
Laziness gives great advantage to the tempter -A.W. Pink -
Filled With The Spirit https://beltoftruth1.blogspot.com/2023/12/filled-with-spirit.html…
"He that is busy is tempted by but one devil; he that is idle, by a legion." -Thomas Fuller.
"I would rather be nobody at Christ's feet than everybody anywhere else." — Charles Spurgeon
A godly man prefers grace before goods, and wisdom before the world. Richard Sibbes
"You do not love Christ if you do not love him more than all things." — Charles Spurgeon
Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God! Spurgeon
When we assume things will go one way and they go another, we question ourselves and the world around us. We often choose to believe these events would have turned out differently if we had made other, but this is only an attempt to prop up a false sense of control. Chris Hodges
"I always feel it well to put a few words of prayer between everything I do." — Charles Spurgeon
There is nothing little in God. - Charles Spurgeon
"The homemaker has the ultimate career." -C.S.Lewis.
"Never did I meet a Christian who, in his old age, said that he had made a mistake in relying upon Christ as his Savior." — Charles Spurgeon
Every house should be a little #church -Jonathan Edwards -
Bad company in this life, is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come. -J.C. Ryle
The will of God is discovered & revealed NOT planned & scheduled.
“…confession puts Satan out of office.” —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:246
"Every promise of God's Word belongs to all those who have the faith to grasp it." — Charles Spurgeon
If you put your need for sight before faith, then it isn’t really faith at all.
Tony Evans
Faith doesn’t force God to do what He never planned to do. But faith accesses what He has already planned to do as He sees that you are trusting in Him to do it.
Tony Evans
Your focus should not be on how much faith you can muster but on coming to know God more fully so that you can have greater confidence in Him for all the circumstances of your life.
Tony Evans
No matter how discouraged you feel about yourself, KNOW with confidence that God is working. Pastor Chuck said, “The work of the Spirit of God will continue in you. It is based on the faithfulness of God. He hasn’t taken you this far to dump you now!” Ray Bentley
"The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, he looks, he touches us, we live." — Charles Spurgeon
"I know the path that I ought to take. For this I prize the Bible very highly." — Charles Spurgeon
"Jesus heals all who come and casts out none." — Charles Spurgeon
“Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of; in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God; in nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed.” Richard Baxter
"The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances, or doctrines." — Charles Spurgeon
A single groan before God may have more fullness of #prayer in it than a fine oration of great length. -C.H. Spurgeon -
The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of #God and the #Church is famishing for want of His Presence. -A.W. Tozer -
"Cease from self-confidence. Fall into the arms of Jesus." — Charles Spurgeon
"When will Jesus cast you out? That time will never come." — Charles Spurgeon
"The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it be for good or evil." -Apocrypha.
"Let us bless the God of revelation, who does not hide himself from us." — Charles Spurgeon
We can have no power from Christ unless we live in a persuasion that we have none of our own. - John Owen
"Every believer is free from condemnation and that is simply because he is in Christ Jesus." — Charles Spurgeon
“Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties.” — Charles Spurgeon
There is no #grace that is not in #Christ, and every grace is in Him in the highest degree... -John Owen -
Take heed that thy inside and outside be alike;, and both conformable to the Word of his #grace -John Bunyan -
We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed new year! Streams in Desert
Despair thrusts God from his mercy-seat; it throws disgrace upon the throne of grace; it gives the lie to all the precious promises; it casts reproach upon the nature of God; it tramples under feet the blood of the covenant. —Puritan Thomas Brooks, Works 2:131
Every believer is truly justified at once, but none is perfectly sanctified at once. Richard Sibbes
Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, “the streams whereof make glad the city of God.” Streams in Desert
Too many people want a God that saves them but doesn't change them. The Gospel doesn't work like that.
These things remain true in 2024: - God is real - The Bible is authoritative - Jesus is the only way to Heaven - Biblical marriage is between one man & one woman - God determines who is male & female - People need church - Self-help can’t save you - How you live matters.
Sometimes This is All I Know: I Was Going to Hell and Now I'm NOT! Hallelujah, Jesus Saves!
“Pass the truth to the next generation. Teach them early what we learned late.”
"I rather listen to God and be judged by the world than to listen to the world and be judged by God!"
No Battle, No Victory!
So, if we only lead one soul to Christ, we may set a stream in motion that will flow on when we are dead and gone. D.L. Moody, The Overcoming Life