In addition to heavenly liberty, God desires to mark our lives with other spiritual characteristics. One of these is the godly encouragement that comes from living and serving under a ministry of mercy and grace.
It is the Lord who gives us LIFE—not just existence. And He longs for that life to be full, rich, emotionally satisfying, mentally challenging—abundant!
OSWALD CHAMBERS
The emphasis to–day is placed on the furtherance of an organization; the note is, “We must keep this thing going.” If we are in God’s order the thing will go; if we are not in His order, it won’t.
Because of God’s mercy, our stained hearts have been bleached by the blood of the Lamb.
Whatever is in your past that you bring to Jesus is wiped away. Your record is clear with Him! He’s that gracious! He’s that merciful! Bask in that today and don’t shy away from Him any longer. He loves you more that you can possibly understand.
What was the sin that Herod was involved in? The Bible simply says that he was married to Herodias, his brother’s wife. And history tells us that, indeed, Herod married his brother Philip’s wife. But it gets even worse, because Herodias was the daughter of Philips’s half brother, which also made her Herod’s niece. What’s more, Herodias had a daughter named Salome, whom Herod looked at lustfully. So, he not only married his brother’s wife, who happened to be his niece, but he also had a lustful eye for the daughter of Herodias.
How do you kill a conscience? You do it a little at a time. You know something is wrong, your conscience troubles you about it, and you try to ignore it. Then as time passes, your conscience becomes harder and harder to hear.
The best way to deal with a troubled conscience is to get rid of what produced it, and that is sin. Only Jesus Christ can forgive sin and resensitize the conscience. He died on Calvary’s cross and shed His blood for us. We must call our sin what it is and stop making excuses for it.
I am rested, tested, and instant. With the hope that is within me, I do have an answer.
Each biblical name of God reflects some blessing, or favor available to those who known His name. “The Lord Is My Peace,” The Lord Is My Righteousness,” “The Lord Is My Healer,” “The Lord Is My Provider” all reveal what God is in interaction and engagement with people. All together, the names of God revealed in the Bible are the stones comprising the “strong tower.” No wonder His people are safe and secure when they run into it for sanctuary.
The power of man can never reverse the sentence of
God.
~Thomas V. Moore~
In addition to heavenly liberty, God desires to mark our lives with other spiritual characteristics. One of these is the godly encouragement that comes from living and serving under a ministry of mercy and grace.
By suffering God’s will, we learn to do God’s will.
~Thomas Case~
It is important to remember, just because God is opening a door, does not mean it will be easy or without obstacles. Many times, when God opens a door, the enemy comes in like a flood to stop the work of God. When it gets too hard to walk in the will of God, do we quit? Do we say, “It cannot be God’s will,” because it is not easy?
Ask God to help you have His eternal view of the world. Every person you meet has been given an invitation! When one says yes, celebrate! When one says no, pray!
Our own lives may seem at times to be morally good and decent; but in comparison to the holiness and the purity of God, we are defiled and filthy. In spite of our sins and moral uncleanness God loves us.
people can be re taught to think and act differently but you must be willing to be coach-able...
there are a lot of people who are living their lives stuck in reverse, alarms going off, beeps beeping very loudly, but they can't get it out of reverse. You know these kinds of people, the ones that nobody wants to be around because they can be so annoying, always dwelling on the past. Full of “I wish I had done this” or “I wish I could have done that”.
THERE IS NO FUTURE IN YOUR PAST...
Questions immediately change what we're focusing on and therefore how we feel. Don't you have treasured moments in your life that, if you just focused on them again, you'd immediately feel wonderful? Perhaps it was the day you moved out on your own, the birth of your first child, or a conversation with a friend that helped give you the confidence to shoot for the stars.
*Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You Teach People How To Treat You.
n short, our optimism or pessimism is this:
The way we interpret the past
The way we experience and view the present
The way we imagine the future
Have you given much thought about how your attitude, whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, affects your business, organization or school? Have you thought` about how it affects you personally? And what about the team you are a part of?
“View change as the one constant in your life. Welcome it. Expect it. Anticipate it.”
— Denis Waitley
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
— Mohandas Ghandi
“We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.”
— Jim Rohn
“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction..”
— Winston Churchill
“We may think there is willpower involved, but more likely... change is due to want power. Wanting the new addiction more than the old one. Wanting the new me in preference to the person I am now.”
— George Sheehan
"Jesus gave his life for me, to take my life from me, to live his life through me." Alistair Begg
Choose your thoughts; don’t react to emotion.
Don't do something permanently stupid just because you're temporarily upset.
find what you are good at and they focus on their goals and persevere until they complete their goals.
"Don't let mistakes and disappointments of the past control and direct your future."- Zig Ziglar
No man ever lost anything by serving God with a whole
heart, or gained anything by serving Him with half a one.
~Thomas V. Moore~
Some Christians have a really hard time understanding that God might not be concerned about the things that seem to bother us so much. Have you ever considered the Lord's agenda might be a lot different than yours or mine? things that shock or cause me to shudder are most likely insignificant as far as God is concerned. Because He has an eternal view.
We can get so consumed by the minutia -- enraged by perceived offenses, caught up in political controversies, or even the fine details of doctrine -- that we lose perspective on the big picture.
what are God's primary concerns? For starters, how about salvation, growing His kingdom, grace, and walking in the Spirit?
Lawyers should never ask a Georgia grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know me?' She responded, 'Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you'll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.'
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?'
She again replied, 'Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.'
The defense attorney nearly died.
The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said,
'If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to the electric chair.
It is when God appears to have abandoned us that we must abandon ourselves most wholly to God.
~Francois Fenelon~
God wants you to have the confidence that you can shine like a bright beacon in this dark world. God has begun a good work in you and He promises to complete it. For some of you, that work began 20+ years ago, for some it has been a couple of years, and for others maybe just a couple of days, but He is doing a good work in you. No matter where you are today…
Transitions in our lives must be faced with fierce trust.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean you get a free “get out of suffering” card. In fact the Bible just about guarantees that if you follow the way of Jesus, you will encounter suffering:
Our faith isn't based on what God does in a moment. Our faith is based on what Christ did on the cross.
In the time of death, some people are insensitive and don't realize it. For whatever reason send private messages. At least think before you respond.
How does God get your attention? Does the house have to burn down? Sometimes the life-changing events we experience (loss of a job, health issue, financial setback, family problem, etc.) are only necessary because we haven't been listening to God -- we've blocked Him out.
The more we understand God’s sovereignty, the more our prayers will be filled with thanksgiving.
~R.C. Sproul~
“To take all that we are and have and hand it over to God may not be easy; but it can be done, and when it is done, the world has in it one less candidate for misery.” —Paul E. Scherer
"All power is given unto Me! I am no longer in the grave. I will protect you. I will support you. I will go ahead of you. I will give you effectiveness for your witness and ministry. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations "I will never leave you nor forsake you!" ~JESUS~
Not good enough will never be good enough!
“Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror.” - C.S. Lewis
[The fear of the Lord] is not contrary to the grace of the gospel. No; it is the fruit of it: Psalm 130:4, ‘There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.’ —Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 7:176
The Old Testament was perfect in itself and the New Testament is an expansion of the same truth." — Charles Spurgeon
"I have to wonder that I do not believe Christ more, and equally wonder that I am privileged to believe in him at all." — Charles Spurgeon
"Self-righteousness is the very height of rebellion against God." — Charles Spurgeon
"Trust in Christ at all times and however deep your poverty, you shall have a superabundant supply." — Charles Spurgeon
"The whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified." — Charles Spurgeon
"True faith has many sides to it. It is not true faith at all if it is not full of love." — Charles Spurgeon
"I have to lie humbly at the foot of Christ's cross and marvel that I am saved at all." — Charles Spurgeon
"To disagree with Paul’s Epistles is to disagree with the Holy Spirit." — Charles Spurgeon
"Close access to God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy." — Charles Spurgeon
"Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel’s fields." — Charles Spurgeon
“Do not try to make the gospel look fine; do not overlay it with your fine words.” — Charles Spurgeon
"The gospel is all about Christ from beginning to end." – Charles Spurgeon
"Since the world was created, man has imitated Satan." — Charles Spurgeon
"Trust in Christ does not come from us; it is always the work of the Spirit of God." — Charles Spurgeon
"Non-Christians have death and damnation at their doors and yet are joking and unconcerned." — Charles Spurgeon
"No sinner ever came to God and was sent empty away." — Charles Spurgeon
The highway to Hell is lined with people encouraging one another to ‘do whatever you feel like doing’.
Our Lord loves to encourage faith. - George Whitefield
God retains no hatred against a pardoned person. —Stephen Charnock, Works 5:444
Christianity is not being weighed in the balances and found wanting, its being tried, found difficult and rejected. -Leonard Ravenhill -
He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin, he does more-he breaks its power -J.C. Ryle -
“And this, my brethren, is the gospel, which is the best news that ever ear heard, or tongue was employed to utter, which took up God's thoughts from all eternity…” — Thomas Goodwin on 2 Corinthians 5:20
"Better to bear than to swear." -Thomas Brooks.
Experience is the Lord's school - John Newton
"No sin you forgive in others is greater than the sin God forgave in you." Dustin Benge
Our affections to heavenly things languish when all succeeds with us in the world according to our heart’s desire. —Thomas Manton, Works 7:224
"No matter how sadly you have failed in the past, nor what light and favors you sinned against, if you will own it all in brokenness of heart unto the Lord, He is ready to forgive." A.W. Pink
What has the world done for you, that you love it so much? Robert Murray McCheyne
Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church. Charles Spurgeon
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (I Peter 1:3)
Your trials, crosses, and conflicts are all temporary. J. C. Ryle
“Men think it a shame to be ignorant of their trade—but no shame to be ignorant of God. There is no going to heaven blindfold.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thomas Watson
Nothing is more wonderful than to know that God loves you. Martyn Lloyd Jones
Live in Christ, die in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death. John Knox
Great grace and small gifts are better than great gifts and no grace. John Bunyan
The church’s standard doesn’t change because God’s Word doesn’t change, and His Word doesn’t change because He doesn’t change. Burk Parsons
Walk so that if we could suppose the Bible to be lost, it might be found again in your lives. Thomas Watson
The world hateth me," may such a soul as hath the Spirit say; "but my Father loves me. - John Owen
"Everything that you can see will die and rot. Every title you can earn will be lost. Every glory you receive from men will turn to nothing. Live for that which is eternal. Live for the one that died for you." Paul Washer
Preaching must always be theological and always based on a theological foundation. — Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“The key to effective preaching is not mastering certain techniques; it’s being mastered by certain convictions.” -John Piper
The satisfaction of Christ is to free us from misery, and the merit of #Christ is to purchase happiness for us. -Jonathan Edwards -
Steven Lawson
The word of God is a sharp sword that convicts, a shining lamp that illumines, milk that nourishes, and meat that strengthens.
As ever you would enjoy the gracious presence of the Lord, take heed of a lazy, slothful, sluggish spirit in the things of God, in the concernment of your souls. —Puritan Thomas Brooks, Works 5:575
"I know that the angels are present at the canonical hours, and what if they do not find me among the brethren when they assemble? Will they not say, 'Where is Bede? Why does he not attend the appointed devotions with his brethren?" -Bede the Venerable.
On alliteration in #preaching outlines: “[Alliteration] can so easily become forced and artificial — words being used not because they are exact and apt but because they begin with the appropriate letter.” – Alec Motyer, Preaching? p. 92
BEFORE WE ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING, WE MUST FIRST THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING!
"INSTEAD OF BUYING YOUR CHILDREN ALL THE THINGS YOU NEVER HAD, TRY TEACHING THEM ALL THE THINGS YOU WERE NEVER TAUGHT."
IF IT'S NOT YOUR BUSINESS, DON'T MAKE IT YOUR BURDEN!
How do we know that God has elected us before the creation of the world? By believing in Jesus Christ. —John Calvin, Third Sermon on the First Chapter of Ephesians (1:4-6)
When repentance is attributed to God it noteth only the alteration of things and actions done by him, and no change of his purpose and secret decree, which is immutable. Repentance with man is the changing of his will; repentance with God is the willing of a change. —John Trapp
"Let our hearts clap with thanksgiving, for God has rescued us from the power of darkness." — Charles Spurgeon
God has made us His servants under the new covenant of grace. "God…made us…ministers of the new covenant" (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Those who desire to serve the Lord by grace have a very distinctive approach to ministry. "We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully.
People want their lives to make a difference. Many find happiness in service, working through churches, Red Cross, scouts, Sunday schools, home fellowships. Wherever God puts you, He will bless you for giving of yourself.
Through God’s divine power, we possess ALL important things; all that will satisfy us, all that will give us abundant life —everything we need for life.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
When you are joyful, be joyful; when you are sad, be sad. If God has given you a sweet cup, don’t make it bitter; and if He has given you a bitter cup, don’t try and make it sweet; take things as they come.
When we read the Gospels, we discover that Jesus had a lot to say to a lot of people. We see in John 3 that he had an extensive conversation with Nicodemus. And in John 4, we find another conversation that He had with a woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria.
Jesus, being God, could see Herod’s heart. And He knew that Herod had gone beyond the point of no return. Therefore, Jesus could see that it was futile to talk to Herod. There really was no reason to do so.
Matthew 7:6 tells us, “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you” (NLT).
Some people love to argue. Sometimes people walk up to me and say, “Greg, I want to talk with you.” Often it’s because they want to argue with me. It becomes apparent they have a list of talking points or a hypothetical situation they want to present.
Don’t mess with your conscience, lest you end up like Herod and come to a point where Jesus says, “The conversation is over. I’ve said everything there is to say.” Don’t let that happen to you.
God commands us to forgive.
Forgiving is hard even though God commands it from us. Even harder might be appreciating that God will continue to use the people who have hurt us in the past. God’s not done with us and He’s not done with them either!
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