OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
We are only what we are in the dark; all the rest is reputation. What God looks at is what we are in the dark—the imaginations of our minds; the thoughts of our heart; the habits of our bodies; these are the things that mark us in God’s sight.
What about you? Are you putting God first in your life? Take a good look today and ask yourself what might be ahead of Him. Is it work? Family? Friends? Money? God deserves first place and He’s also your source of true happiness and wholeness. What’s stopping you from putting Him first?
God wants to give you the healing, the wisdom, the direction you so desperately desire.
Do you like alone time? Or do you avoid it? Do you ask God what He wants to say to you and then actively listen? What has He been saying to you? Let’s take time today and intentionally listen to the Lord. Let’s make space for Him!
“We are all strings in the concert of His joy.” —Jacob Boehme
It has been said that you can tell the depth of a well by how much rope must be lowered. As we look at how much rope God lowered from Heaven when He sent His own Son to die for our sins, we realize how deep the well really was.
It’s amazing to me how many people so casually consider the claims of Jesus Christ, acting as though they have all the time in the world to sort through various religious ideas and come to their own conclusions. They peruse religious ideologies like they’re looking at a menu and deciding what to have for dinner.
This is the situation of humanity. God has laid out for us a clear path on which to walk and to know Him. And it’s the only way to come into a relationship with Him.
Historians tell us that a great cloud of hopelessness covered the ancient world. Their philosophies were empty, and their traditions were disappearing. In addition, their religions were powerless to impact them in this life or to prepare them for the life to come.
so many are looking for truth in all the wrong places. They want the benefits of faith but not the restrictions of it. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. The Bible tells us that will be a sign of the last days. According to 2 Timothy 3:5, people “will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (NLT).
There is only one way of reconciliation that God has made available to us. If we want reconciliation with God, it will come only through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” (NLT).
Notice the words “but now.” We were on our way to a certain judgment, but God interrupted that when He sent Jesus. It was a blessed interruption. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus and His shed blood, we now have been reconciled to God.
Sin is the great separator in the world. Ever since it entered in, it has been dividing people throughout human history.
at the cross of Calvary, Jesus eliminated the wall that separates us from God. He brought about reconciliation.
We can come to God right now, but not because of our worthiness or because of good deeds we’ve done. We come to Him because of a relationship with Him—and that relationship was purchased through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Every believer in Christ has had the frustrating experience of wanting to do what pleases the Lord, but being unable to actually accomplish such. We are told here that a spiritual struggle is behind that failure. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." The Spirit of God dwells within our lives. He is the "Spirit of holiness" (Romans 1:4). He desires that we be "partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10) and thereby walk in godliness. However, the flesh (natural humanity) is also present in our lives. The natural desires of man are not toward holiness, but rather toward self-indulgence and self-sufficiency. Thus, what the Spirit desires and what our flesh craves are set against each other. "These are contrary to one another." The consequence of this internal conflict is "that you do not do the things that you wish." Even though godly desires develop in us as new creatures in Christ, we find ourselves unable to implement these new longings by our good intentions.
There is a destructive spiritual tendency that resides in every human being. It is "the law of sin and death." This indwelling principle is always pulling people downward into sin and spiritual deadness. It comes from being physically born into a fallen race of sinners who are like their earthly father, Adam. Being born anew spiritually does not remove this problem, since this principle still operates within our natural humanity (the flesh). Yet, becoming a child of God does make His remedy constantly available to us.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
There is a destructive spiritual tendency that resides in every human being. It is "the law of sin and death."
You can't change your habits until you change your thoughts.
All The premisses of God are yes and Amen... He will do what He says weather we believe it or not.
God is building your character and He is testing you, by faith, to see if you are faithful in the little things, and then the bigger things will come to you. That is the way God works. He wants to see our faithfulness. How can there be great faith where there is little faithfulness?
~William Gurnall~
*Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.
Better to die for a conviction than live with a compromise.
I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
Donald Trump
Charles Cosby
For those of you who are striving to have better lives, the less you associate with certain people, the more your life will improve. Some of the very people who you consider friends will not want you to become more successful than them, instead, they will want you to remain beneath where they are. They will be slow to embrace your vision and quick to strangle your dreams. Always remember: People who are not happy with themselves DO NOT want to see you happy!
How Vain
I counted dollars while God counted crosses.
I counted gains while He counted losses.
I counted my worth by the things gained in store.
But He sized me up by the scars that I bore.
I coveted honors and sought for degrees.
He wept as He counted the hours on my knees.
And I never knew till one day at a grave
how vain are the things that we spend life to save.
-- Anonymous.
Divine work must be divinely initiated.
~Watchman Nee~
All too often I find people who were once wholeheartedly engaged in Christian service and now stand on the sideline. Of course there are many reasons, but one that is common yet sometimes hidden from view is when a servant's attitude, ego, or self-esteem grows larger than the ministry.
you must get out of that negative environment and get into an atmosphere of victory, where people build you up rather than tear you down . Find a place where you can dare to dream Big Dreams, a place where your faith will be elevated. Find a place where people will encourage you and challenge you to be the best you can be; find a place where people inspire you to reach for new heights. We must envision good things happening to us before they will ever happen! They will happen, I know it, because I know it! Read II Corinthian.
If we cannot be believed on our word, we are surely not to be trusted on our oath.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich today and poor tomorrow; he may be sick today and well tomorrow; he may be happy today and sad tomorrow--but there is no change regarding his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday, He loves me today
On-and-off salvation never appears in the Bible. Scripture contains no example of a person who was saved, then lost, then re-saved, then lost again. Where there is no assurance of salvation, there is no peace; no joy.
“For the Christian, death is not the end of adventure but a doorway from a world where dreams and adventures shrink, to a world where dreams and adventures forever expand.”
― Randy Alcorn, Heaven
Voltaire is credited with saying, “Common sense is not so common.” What was true in the eighteenth century—and dare it to be said, at the time of King Solomon as well— is no less true today.
You will never experience the full power of the Spirit unless you release control.
As you look at your life today, you should be able to see ways in which God has already renewed you. And I expect you can also identify ways still in need of renovation because you are God’s work in progress.
"The gospel is all about Christ from beginning to end." – Charles Spurgeon
Search the inspired Book and desire to know everything it teaches."
— Charles Spurgeon
The Rapture is so close now. I live every minute in anticipation of this glorious event. Are you ready for the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet? For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed! So be ready...
Today is the day to be ready! Your Glorified body is coming, but until then, let us not cease to teach and preach Jesus! Tell people that today is the day of salvation.
It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.” - C.S. Lewis
“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
“When you are arguing against God you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all.” - C.S. Lewis
"Jesus' preaching and teaching was characterized by simplicity and specificity. His goal was to communicate truth, not to impress His audience." - Jimmy O'Keefe
“The church does not need brilliant personalities, but faithful servants of Jesus.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
After the most careful and prayerful preparation of a sermon, I am fully persuaded that unless it is used by the Holy Spirit it will accomplish nothing. ~ Rev. Francis J. Grimké
“The Old Testament is the Gospel in the bud, the New Testament is the Gospel in full flower.” -J.C. Ryle
“We may say too much in a single sermon, we may give a field of wheat instead of a loaf of bread.” - Charles Spurgeon
Many people do almost anything except think. Charles Spurgeon
Blessed is the man whose life is the practical transcript of God’s will. Charles Spurgeon
The more the Christian knows of Christ’s love, the more will he hate himself to think that he has sinned against such love. Charles Spurgeon
Nothing is more beautiful in the eyes of God than a soul that loves to hear His Word. Martin Luther
"Trials are inseparable from this mortal state, & they are necessary to discipline us, and to keep us from wandering." -John Newton.
A true Christian experience must always include a genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow... -A.W. Tozer -
Faith that does not purify the heart and life, is not faith at all. -J.C. Ryle -
The Christian who has stopped repenting has stopped growing. —A.W. Pink
"People who go to hell deserve to be there. People who go to heaven do not deserve to be there. The first is justice, the second is grace." Steven Lawson
Jerry Bridges
You were bought with a price, the price being the blood of the Son of God shed for your salvation. You no longer belong to yourself.
"God's promise, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you,' is every bit as true during the Christian's worst day on earth as on his best day." Joel Beeke
It's not what I don't know that bothers me - it's what I do know and don't do! Martin Luther
Isn’t it amazing that God gives breath to a man who’s going to blaspheme Him all day? Leonard Ravenhill
We believe that the very beginning and end of salvation, and the sum of Christianity, consists of faith in Christ, who by His blood alone, and not by any works of ours, has put away sin, and destroyed the power of death. Martin Luthe
I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. The Word of God did it all. Martin Luther
The more a person loves, the closer he approaches the image of God. Martin Luther
There cannot be heaven without Christ. He is the sum total of bliss; the fountain from which heaven flows. Charles Spurgeon
Our sins are gone. He cast them into His own tomb, and they are buried there, never to have a resurrection. Charles Spurgeon
There is more anxiety among believers today about how to make a living, than about how to live. -Leonard Ravenhill -
It is better to have God approve, than the world applaud -Thomas Watson -
"All are not saved by Christ's death, but all which are saved, are saved by Christ's death." -Henry Smith.
A preacher’s life should be a commentary of his doctrine; his practice should be a counterpart of his sermons. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life. - Thomas Brooks
A Good Shepherd is not known by how gently he pets the sheep. A Good Shepherd is known by how well he protects them and feeds them. —John MacArthur
Jonathan Edwards
Fear of hell is taken away by Christ, so that the obedience of a Christian doesn't arise from slavish fear, but from love.
Faithfulness to Christ always evokes opposition. -A.W. Pink -
The Spirit never loosens where the Word binds; the Spirit never justifies where the Word condemns; the Spirit never approves where the Word disapproves; the Spirit never blesses where the Word curses. - Thomas Brooks
A Christian must never leave off repenting, for I fear he never leaves off sinning. -C.H.Spurgeon -
"God is best known in Christ; the sun is not seen but by the light of the sun." -William Bridge.
Tony Evans
Jesus wants you to follow Him, not just fit Him in.
The greatest joy that a person can have is to know that his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he is saved and will live forever with Christ. R.C. Sproul
The devil has two major tricks with people. One is, “You’re so good; you don’t need to be saved.” The other is, “You’re so bad; you can’t be saved.” And he’s a liar on both counts. Leonard Ravenhill
The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory. - Richard Sibbes
"Our character is in God's hands. If we do His will, He will take care of our good name." -James W. Alexander.
Sometimes it can be fun to watch because it is a good chance to criticize others. It is easier to be a spectator than a participant. But Paul does not give us that option. He indicates that everyone is to participate. Wimber
One is not righteous who does much, but the one who, without work, believes much in Christ. The law says, 'Do this,' and it is never done. Grace says, 'Believe in this,' and everything is already done. Martin Luther
For some years now I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant. Martin Luther
"If God asked anything of you to qualify you for Christ, you could not do it." — Charles Spurgeon
This is the most dangerous trial of all, when there is no trial and every thing goes well; for then a man is tempted to forget God, to become too bold and to misuse times of prosperity. Martin Luther
A lie is like a snowball: the further you roll it the bigger it becomes. Martin Luther
"Ah, Lord Jesus! I never knew your love until I understood the meaning of your death." — Charles Spurgeon
If prayer is not part of your sermon prep. then you are doing sermon prep. wrong
"Be not too curious in searching where God has not discovered or revealed." -Edmund Calamy.
For the true disciple it is Christ before family, Christ before country, Christ before life itself. -A.W. Tozer -
The true cure for self-righteousness is self-knowledge. -J.C. Ryle -
"Every Christian has a choice between being humble and being humbled." — Charles Spurgeon
Steven Lawson
Christ is the way—follow Him. He is the truth—believe Him. He is the life—abide in Him.
All of a Christian's life is one of repentance. Martin Luther
Do not let the devil tempt you to believe that you are too sinful." — Charles Spurgeon
The free grace of Christ will produce far more effects on men’s lives than the sternest commands of the law. —JC Ryle, Old Paths, Pg. 217
"We not only ought to pray more, but we must." — Charles Spurgeon
God has His spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith. AB Simpson
THEIR MOUTH ON YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER TAKE GOD'S HAND OFF YOUR LIFE! LET THEM TALK.
"Nothing here below can fill an immortal soul." — Charles Spurgeon
OBEDIENCE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, THE WILL TO DO IT IS GOD'S.
My PURPOSE Outweighs My Pain; My DESTINY Outweighs My History; My CROWN Outweighs My Cross; My HOPE Outweighs My Hardship; My Triumph Outweighs My Thorn; God's GRACE Outweighs My Shame; God’s BLESSING Outweighs My Burden; God's FAVOR Outweighs My Frustration."
"DON'T MISS FULFILLING YOUR POTENTIAL BY TRYING TO FULFILL SOMEONE ELSE'S PURPOSE.
YOUR WORST CRITICS ARE LIVING RENT FREE IN YOUR HEAD
STOP REHEARSING YESTERDAY'S MISTAKES, WEAKNESSES, AND FAILURES. YESTERDAY ENDED LAST NIGHT.
I was lost I am found I was blind I am full of sight I was an orphan I am a child of God I was separated from God I am one with God I was broken I am a new creation I was defeated I am more than a conqueror I was dead I am alive Thankfully the great I AM, changed who I am.
The important thing is that the Holy Spirit desires to take us and control us and use us as instruments and organs through whom He can express Himself in the body of Christ. Tozer
God has not forgotten us. The very breath in our nostrils is proof of His goodness to us. Charles Spurgeon
This grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing. It does not lie asleep in the soul. Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works all in man, and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced. It is hidden, but its works are evident. Martin Luther
"If grace itself fails to save a man, nothing else can be done for him." — Charles Spurgeon
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