Great Quotes 18

"We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely necessary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will never be able to stand in the tribulation without it."

- Corrie Ten Boom

"A true biblically functioning community must include being multiethnic."

- Bill Hybels

"The greatest witnessing tool that we have been given by Jesus is the unity of the Church."

- Mark DeYmaz

from faith to faith (Romans 1:17)
from strength to strength (Psalm 84:7)
from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)
from His fullness...grace upon grace (John 1:16)
Christ who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:23)
in all things Christ preeminent (Colossians 1:18)

"The greatest stumbling-block in the way of victory over prayerlessness is the secret feeling that we shall never obtain the blessing of being delivered from it...In His blood and grace there is complete deliverance from all unrighteousness and from all prayerlessness, praised be His name forever!" - Andrew Murray

Your damnation is your own election, not GOD's.-Spurgeon

Christ is the goal toward which all history and existence moves (see Ephesians 1:9-10)

"As Christ is in the Father, so the saints are in Christ; and he that touches the saints, touches the apple of God’s eye." (John Bunyan)

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)

Preachers today spend more time trying to convince the saved that they cant be Lost, rather than convincing the lost that they can be saved. -Ravenhill

But let not this dismay us; for in all this, the seed of the woman is more than conqueror, and bruises the serpent's head. Thus the Israelites, the more they were oppressed, the more they increased. Thus it was with the Apostles; thus it was with their immediate followers. So that Tertullian compares the church in his time to a mowed field; the more frequently it is cut, the more it grows. The blood of the martyrs was always the seed of the church. And I have often sat down with wonder and delight, and admired how God has made the very schemes which his enemies contrived, in order to hinder, become the most effectual means to propagate his gospel. The devil has had so little success in persecution, that if I did not know that he and his children, according to this verse, could not but persecute, I should think he would count it his strength to sit still.
- George Whitefield

"If it were not for persecution, I should not understand the scripture.”Â 
- Luther

 If Satan should be yet suffered to bruise my heel further, and his servants should thrust me into prison, I doubt not, but even that would only tend to the more effectual bruising of his head. I remember a saying the then Lord Chancellor to the pious Bradford: "Thou hast done more hurt, said he, by thy exhortations in private in prison, than thou didst in preaching before thou was put in."
- G.W.

Are there any enemies of God here? The promise of the text encourages me to bid you defiance: the seed of the woman, the ever-blessed Jesus, shall bruise the serpent's head. What signifies all your malice? You are only raging waves of the sea, foaming out your own shame. For you, without repentance, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. The Lord Jesus sits in heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children's good: he laughs you to scorn: he hath you in the utmost derision, and therefore so will I. Who are you that persecute the children of the ever blessed God? Though a poor stripling, the Lord Jesus, the seed of the woman, will enable me to bruise your heads.

"Don't find fault, find a remedy. Anybody can complain."--Henry Ford

...We are all apt to divorce comfort from duty and to content ourselves with a 'barren and unfruitful knowledge' of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8) as if all that he required of the world were only a few naked and cold and inactive apprehensions of his merit and all things were so done for us that nothing remained to be done by us. This is the wretched conceit of many in the present age, and therefore, either they abuse the sweetness of grace to looseness or the power of it to laziness. Christ's merit and the Spirit's efficacy are the commonplaces from whence they draw all the defenses and excuses of their own wantonness and idleness.

It is true God hath opened an excellent treasure in the church to defray the expenses of humble sinners, and to bear the expenses of the saints to heaven; but there is nothing allowed to wanton prodigals who spend freely and sin lavishly upon the mere account of the riches of grace...

- Thomas Manton (1620-1677) from preface to his work: James, A Practical Commentary.

Most Christians in the West are educated beyond their obedience. More education is not what we need. We need more obedience to what we already know...Knowing something is not nearly as potent as doing something with what you know...When God develops a leader organically, he develops the whole person, not merely his or her knowledge.

- Neil Cole in Organic Leadership

"The Christian life can only be lived one way, and that is God's way. God's way is that I leave all and follow Him." Ravenhill

"Let us ask God to restore the light in our own souls. Let us become simple. It may be that God will keep you small and hidden. O wonderful, wonderful call! He says, "My love, let me see thy countenance, thou that art in the secret place of the stairs." Let others make a great noise and clamor for attention. The bride of Christ is hiding away in Him with one desire””only to please the Bridegroom." - Hans Waldvogel

The Pharisees came to John questioning by Who's authority he preached. I love his reply. He said, I am the voice(of the one crying in the wilderness). John had a voice, most of us are just an echo."

Ravenhill

If God did not forgive sinners, Heaven would be empty.-Unknown

My dear friend, you may feel spiritual in a crowd on Sunday morning, but following the Lord is intensely personal.
I urge you to seek Him and wait in His presence until you are overcome by His love and you love Him back.
Fall in love with Jesus
That's it

"Learn from me" - Jesus (Matthew 11:29)

I have rightfully no other business each day but to do God's work as a servant, constantly regarding His pleasure. May I have grace to live above every human motive, simply with God and to God.
- Henry Martyn (missionary to India)

"Let Him show us the vision of the Glory, and bring us to the very end of self, let Him touch our lips with the live coal, and set us on fire to burn for Him, yea, burn with consuming love for Him, and a purpose none can turn us from, and a passion like a pure white flame, "a passion for the Glory of God!”
Oh, may this passion consume us! Burn the self out of us, burn the love into us””for God’s Glory we ask it, Amen." - Amy Carmichael

"The fire of God did so burn in my soul that I could not rest day or night without doing something for my God and Saviour. Nor could I go with satisfaction to sleep, if I had not done something for His glory that day." - Howell Harris

The evangelist Charles Finney speaking at a pastor's conference in 1873:

"Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation."

"Spend much time at Calvary...look at that love, look and look till you can say to Him, 'Yes, Lord, anything.'" - Amy Carmichael

"I will not be able to make it in this life without you, without the Body of Christ. We become like Jesus with the brothers and sisters in the Body, it is written in the book of Ephesians chapter four."
- K. P. Yohannan

"Yes, the Lord can change situations and can do miracles, but there is no bigger miracle than Jesus dying for our sins so that we can have forgiveness."

A private faith that does not act in the face of oppression is no faith at all. --- William Wilberforce

"We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service."
Charles H. Spurgeon

"The soul can do without everything except the word of God, without which none at all of its wants are provided for." Martin Luther

"Reading God’s Word and meditating on its truth will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart, and will be demonstrated in your life. Let nothing take the place of this daily privilege." Billy Graham

Let God isolate us.
In this isolating experience
He develops an independence of faith and life
so that the soul needs no longer the constant help,
prayer, faith, or attention of his neighbor.

We must dare to be alone.
Jacob must be left alone
if the Angel of God is to whisper in his ear
the mystic name of Shiloh;
Daniel must be left alone if he is to see celestial visions;
John must be banished to Patmos
if he is deeply to take and firmly to keep the print of heaven.

Streams in the Desert: by Mrs. Charles Cowman

While praying the Lord said,

"Minister to the soul not the sin."

Where rules rule, the flesh rules.
~ God

"Wearing a headcovering is only one of many Biblical practices that could be called outward, symbolic acts...there are, unfortunately, some people who emphasize only outward symbols and ignore the more important inward realities that those symbols represent. But the abuse of a Biblical practice by hypocrites does not negate or lessen its value and importance for sincere believers. Insincere believers, hypocrites, and even unbelievers sometimes get baptized or take the Lord's Supper, yet very few Christians suggest that these Biblical practices be abandoned by sincere believers." - Daniel Botkin

"You cannot win the world by being like the world. The devil will win you the day you start to do that. You want to know who the enemies of the Lord are? Preach truth and watch who is the first to fight you. Preach a standard!"
Keith Daniels

"The people who really rule the world are those who know how to pray.”
”• Derek Prince, Secrets of a Prayer Warrior

"Wherever you encounter domination, you can be sure that it is satanic. That is not how God rules people.”
”• Derek Prince, Pulling Down Strongholds

"John Bunyan" Prick him anywhere;and..the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the Word of God - CH Spurgeon

"it pleased God, not only that all fullness should dwell in Jesus Christ, but that all the fullness of God should dwell in you. Oh, the eternal purpose of God is going to be fulfilled in those who love Jesus Christ, in those that make Him their own! That’s the mystery of the Gospel." - Hans Waldvogel

"Of a heart perfectly yielded to Him, God will take perfect possession...to a soul perfectly devoted to Him, God will wonderfully reveal Himself." - Andrew Murray

It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, 'This is the Word of God. In it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,' I would shake my head and say, 'I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.' There must be, in any complete revelation of God's mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners. --R.A. Torrey

Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart! --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian. --AW. Tozer

The observant man recognizes many mysteries into which he can not pretend to see, and he remembers that the world is too wide for the eye of one man. But the modern sophists are sure of everything, especially if it contradicts the Bible. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed. --Leonard Ravenhill

These depictions of Jesus as a man are inaccurate. When He came to earth He was in disguise, the real Jesus was seen at His transfiguration.

"If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, 'I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,' it simply mean that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says." -- Oswald Chambers

Life relates to a person. Religion relates to things. That's one great difference. Religion is taken up with things. As, for instance, rules, doctrines, theology, duty, institutions, rituals and other such things. Now I do not say that any of those things are necessarily evil but in those things there is no life. You can have all the rules, all the doctrine, all the theology, be a member of the church, keep all the institutions and ordinaces and rituals of the church without having life. Life is not in things. ~ Derek Prince

"All our choices, separations, and sacrifices are vain until we come to Calvary and reach the sprinkled Blood. "What would Jesus do?" is not the question until first we have understood what Jesus has done, and accepted it for our salvation. It is this alone that gives us acceptance with God." - A.B. Simpson

Reading the Bible without meditating on it, is like trying to eat without swallowing.-Unknown

"There is no substitute for waiting upon the Lord, for giving Him time...The great bulk of people never find out the wonder of it because they don’t do it. You’ll never find out the glory of the love of God until you open your heart to Him and let Him set your heart ablaze with His love. And it doesn’t happen if you don’t live a life of prayer, if you don’t give God time." - Hans R. Waldvogel

"Many picture Satan as a great, ugly monster with great ears, eyes and a tail; but the Scriptures give us no such picture of him. He was a being of great beauty whose heart became lifted up. He is manifesting himself everywhere today as an angel of light. He is full of pride, and if you don’t watch he will try to make you think you are somebody. This is the weakness of most preachers and most men--the idea of being somebody! There are none of us who are anything, and the more we know we are nothing, the more God can make us a channel of His power."

- Smith Wigglesworth

"I very often think with sweetness, and longings, and partings of soul, of being a little child, taking hold of Christ, to be led by him through the wilderness of this world. That text, Matt. 18:3, has often been sweet to me, except ye be converted and become as little children.."

- Jonathan Edwards

"when you praise God, and Jesus Christ gets hold of you, there’s contact with heaven. "God inhabits the praises” of who? Of you! Haven’t you found that out? Did you praise Him tonight? Oh, when you praise God in the Holy Ghost, there’s the current moving on the line."

- Hans R. Waldvogel

If Jesus has enough power to raise the dead, then he has enough power to help you in that area you're failing in.

Salvation is a gift, we are saved by grace, and not because it is free, but because it is so valuable who of us could ever pay the price?

"There isn't anything in heaven or in the earth or under the earth that can satisfy the human heart but Jesus Christ himself; and blessed are the people that are hungry for Him and want Him alone. Jesus, a jealous bridegroom of the soul, takes His bride through all kinds of testings and all kinds of trials to see whether she will say, "Jesus," instead of "Self"; "Jesus," instead of "People"; and "Jesus," instead of "Things." People like that are going to have Him."

- Hans R. Waldvogel

"Heartily she performed each task "in the name of the Lord Jesus as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Fortunately she had long since learned that, however desirable, it was not necessary to be on her knees or to use her lips in order to pray. She had learned how to pray without ceasing by means of that interior prayer which, like incense, can arise without interruption from the altar of the heart that loves and worships Jesus."

- Gordon P. Gardiner (from Radiant Glory: the Life of Martha Wing Robinson)

I have many dear beloved friends who hold to what I believe is just basic replacement theology. If I made that assertion to them, they would recoil and say, "Dalton, this is not replacement theology, this is covenant or fulfillment or inclusion theology."

If your theology of Israel divests them of their National, ethnic, territorial or identity or destiny, you have embraced replacement theology. You may not use the term, you may not use the language, you may not even believe you believe it...

The end result of fulfillment theology is the same result as replacement theology, namely that there are no promises that remain for the Jewish people on a National level.

It's almost as though the Gentile church was a little envious, it lacked the privileges, it took it over and it's wanted to hang on to it. So in other words, there's been rank identity theft.

www(dot)covenantandcontroversy(dot)com

A very interesting film.

"The greatest single danger in this end time is not sickness, nor poverty, nor persecution. It is deception...There is no other way to be sure that we can escape deception in these days except that we know and apply the truth of God's Word, the Scripture." - Derek Prince

"God will never allow the enemy to get the best of us if He sees that we really tremble at His word. What did God say? That’s sufficient for me...Let’s listen to what God says. Never mind what people say, never mind what reason says, never mind what your feelings say. Come on, let’s get our hearts in tune with the word of God." - Hans R. Waldvogel

It was the monastic orders that spread Christianity during the years from 300-1700 A.D.

We may have the doctrine of the coming of the Lord Jesus and yet not be truly watching for His coming.
~ Gottfried Waldvogel

You are still in the world. You are still in the battlefield. You daily fight for your lives. So you must be careful, that . . . what you have begun to be with such a blessed commencement will be consummated in you. It is a small thing to have first received something. It is a greater thing to be able to keep what you have attained. Faith itself and the saving birth do not make you alive by merely being received. Rather, they must be preserved. It is not the actual attainment, but the perfecting, that keeps a man for God. The Lord taught this in His instruction when He said, "Look! you have been made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you." Solomon, Sual, and many others were able to keep the grace given to them so long as they walked in the Lord's ways. However, when the discipline of the Lord was forsaken by them, grace also forsook them.
Cyprian AD 200-258

Don't just bring Him your sins. He's not looking for your lousy sins. He does't keep them in heaven. Bring Him your life, your will, your intentions, your hidden potential...everything for Him to possess.
Leonard Ravenhill ~ Three Kinds of People

REJOICE! =)
Mary

"He was an illustration of the fact that a man may be godly and devoted and yet still need the Holy Ghost.."
~ Rees Howell, Intercessor

Sometimes I think this is the reason that the great prayer warriors today are women, they know more about patience, travail and waiting than men do.
~ Leonard Ravenhill, Desperate Prayer

An experience of God that costs nothing, does nothing. Ultimately, its worth nothing. Leonard Ravenhill

"Sometimes I worry that we can over-preach our response, our surrender, our obedience, our devotion - and under-preach Christ Jesus, God made flesh, from which a glimpse of Him will cause right response to flow!" - Ryan Couch

The one great need in our Christian life is love, more love to God and to each other. Would that we all move into Paul's chapter, and live there.
~ D.L. Moody's Introduction to the book: The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond

"One said, 'As often as I have been around vain men, I returned home less a man I was before'." - Taken from an old version of "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, Being A Companion For Christians Of All Denominations", by Thomas Brooks

"God is slow to anger, but He recompenseth His slowness with grievousness of punishment. If we abuse mercy to serve our lust, then, in Salvian's phrase, 'God will rain hell out of heaven , rather than not unfit such for sins'." - Taken from an old version of "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, Being A Companion For Christians Of All Denominations", by Thomas Brooks

"His preaching had two results. It fanned the people's desire for reform, and it taught them to despise the clergy more and more. At the same time, when opportunity offered, John Hus made a practice of preaching on the burning topics of the day;" - Excerpt from "History Of The Moravian Church", Chpt 2 - The Burning Of Hus; by, J.E. Hutton; 1909, 2nd edition.

A testimony:

I learned about the goodness and grace of God but they were more theoretical ideas about God than practical ways in which He dealt with mankind. Due to how He was portrayed by many church leaders in my circle, I saw God as an angry old man who was fed up with man's sinful living. Since I'd been taught that He was obsessed with man's sins and failures, I became obsessed with them too. No one could measure up to my standards of holy conduct and I became an obnoxious and judgmental person.

~ My Craziest Adventures With God - Volume 1: The Spiritual Journal of a Former Atheist Paramedic (Kindle Edition) by Praying Medic

"He is a true disciple that doth not seek himself, but the honour of His Master." - Thomas Manton (Excerpt from his "Treatise of Self Denial")

"I will charge my soul to believe and wait for Him, follow His providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it." - Samuel Rutherford

"You do not discover character until pressure comes. You do not discover what you are until you're put into difficult situations. As long as you can control your environment, as long as you can have everything your own way, as long as you can pave the road a head of you and put guard-rails on the side of you, then it's easy to live in the environment you control for yourself. But, you just let the road drop away, and the faces go, and the wind blow, and the flood come, you (will) discover your character. Character is not how you appear to your fellows; character is what you are when everything in which you've had confidence in is gone. Someone says, 'Character is what you are in a dark room alone when no one is watching'. Character is what you are in the midst of the Tornado; is what you are in the midst of difficulty when everything is disrupted and torn - Then, what are you?" - Paris Reidhead (I wrote this down some years back after listening to one of his audio sermons posted on this website. However, I did not write down the title of the message in my journal).

Habakkuk 3:17 - Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Habakkuk 3:18 - Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

"To efface oneself is one of a preacher's first duties" - Alexander MacLaren. (Excerpt from his farewell sermon)

"We will never have victorious lives (in Christ) until there's that transforming of the mind - Until we accept that fact that my mind isn't mine own, just to wander in the realms of the flesh and the world, and the things down here. I've got to work at it. My thoughts don't like to be corralled; My thoughts like to run into all kinds of things...." - R Edward Miller. (Excerpt from his audio sermon titled, "Carnal mind or Mind of Christ") available here: https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=27243

Every one of us would confess that we believe in prayer, yet how many of us truly believe in the power of prayer....

For everything depends upon prayer.

Why are many Christians so often defeated? Because they pray so little. Why are may church workers so often discouraged and disheartened? Because they pray so little.

Why do most Christian leaders see so few brought out of 'darkness' to light by their ministry? Because they pray so little. Why are our churches simply not on fire for God? Because there is so little prayer....

We may be assured of this: The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer.

~ Albert Richardson, The Kneeling Christian

"It is the great design of the Gospel to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. It is far easier to reform men's manners than to renew their minds." - Ralph Venning (Excerpt taken from his book, "The Sinfulness of Sin; 1st published in 1669.)

"6) Conversion begins, is carried on and is completed in the hearts and thoughts of men.

It begins there, for while men are dead in sins they do not consider or regard what is in their heart and thoughts. But when the grace of God comes in power, and they receive it in truth, they begin to think and consider, 'What shall we do to be saved?' Men are in a great quandry in their thoughts, they begin to be disturbed, and their bowels are turned with in them. For this reason, regeneration is called the renewing of the mind, and repentance is a change of mind; the heart becomes a new heart, and when the heart is gained, all the rest follows. If the wicked forsake his thoughts, he will quickly forsake his ways (See Isaiah 55:7). The first turn is in the thoughts. 'I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies' (Psalm 119:59); the thoughts go before and the feet follow after. The first movemnet of the Prodigal were in his thoughts; when he came to himself and said within himself, 'I will arise and go my father'. While he was this thinking - it is said, while he was afar off, just taking the first step - his father saw him and had compassion on him.

Not only is conversion begun in, but it is carried on in the heart and thoughts especially, though not exclusively. When others like the Pharisees, study only to make the outside look fair and beautiful, the godly man is employed about his inside, to keep his heart clean. The prayers of godly men are chiefly taken up about their hearts: 'Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me' (Psalm 51:10). And as one excellent writer puts it, In what lies the difference between sincere-hearted christians and others, but in the keeping of the thoughts, without which all religion is but bodily excercise? Papists may mumble over their prayers, hypocrites may talk, but this is godliness. As coversion begins and is carried on in the thoughts, so it is completed, finished and perfected in them; it ends there." - Ralph Venning (Excerpt from "The Sinfulness of Sin; page 229; Reprint edt 2008; Banner of Truth Trust )

"I AM the Light of the world: He that follows me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." - Jesus the Christ (John 8:12)

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profitting may appear to all." - Paul the Apostle (1Timothy 4:15)

"Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thy self from thine appetites." - Ecclesiasticus 18:30

"To break off with a rude shock from a vicious habit strengthened by years of continuence, to crush a passion which has come to rule us with an iron hand, to be roused by such a sense of coming vengeance amid our follies and our crimes as tears us from our tyrant's grasp - feeling that Christ can never come to rule in the same bosom - then, to begin to oppose them, to check them, to struggle with them, grapple for the mastery - trials like these are fearful to flesh and blood. Flesh and blood alone never bore them. There we feel our weakness, and there it is that we learn to take all our strength from the arm on which we lean; encouraged by His promise, 'My grace is sufficient for thee (2Corinthians 12:9)." - W.C. Burns (Excerpt from his sermon, "Pressing Into The Kingdom"; the text is Luke 16:16; "Revival Sermons", by William C Burns; page 26.

Someone once said, "We have too many teachers and hardly any preachers any more"....Sounds like something Leonard Ravenhill would say though :)

"What man in his right mind looks into the darkness to get light?" - A thought that came to me some years back that I wrote into one of my journals

"Reverend Duncan Campbell of Edinburgh says,

For tender, solemn beauty, for reverent setting forth of what the inner vision discerns as it looks upon the Crucified, I know of no verse in our hymnology equal to the stanza beginning,

'See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!'

There have been many singers with a finer sense of melody - Watt's metrical and musical range was limited; he had only 6 - but not the most tuneful of our sacred poets has given us lines more exquisite than these."

-Excerpt taken from "The Hymns And Hymn Writers Of The Church: An Annotated Edition Of The Methodist Hymnal", by Charles S Nutter and Wilbur F Tillett; edition 1911; page 78-79. (Concerning Isaac Watt's hymn "Crucifixion To The World By The Cross Of Christ")

"Man would be intolerable to himself, and look out every way for help, if it was not for his pride."

"There is in the heart of man a deep-rooted covetousness, a subtle worldly spirit, suggesting diabolical, murderous thoughts for its own end."

"If God did not take us to Himself, few would go to Him of their own accord."

"'Why callest thou Me good?', said Jesus the Christ (Read Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) O Man! Why callest thou thyself good?"

- Thomas Adam (Private Thoughts On Religion, and other subjects connected with it, extracted from the diary of the Rev Thomas Adam, late Rector of Wintringham; 2nd edition, MDCCXCV; taken from pages 79 and 80)

"If the bestial life is raised up in thee, the same instant the heavenly birth of thy nature must die in thee." - William Law (Excerpt from 'The Spirit Of Prayer')

"It is a very desirable thing for a physician to be thoroughly studied in his art; and to be able to see the reason of his practice, and to resolve such difficult controversies as are before him. But if he had the charge of the hospital, or lived in a city where the pestilence was raging, if he would be studying fermentation, the circulation of the blood, blisters and the like, and such like excellent points, when he should be visiting his patients, and saving men's lives; if he should even turn them away, and let them perish, and tell them he has no time to give them advice, because he must follow his own studies, I would consider that man as a most preposterous student, who preferred the remote means before the end itself of his studies: indeed, I would think him but a civil kind of murderer." - Richard Baxter (Excerpt from his book, 'The Reformed Pastor'; reprint edt 2007; Banner Of Truth Trust; page 213)

"Meekness of wisdom compels where reason cannot persuade." - Thomas Adam

"Precepts may instruct, but examples persuade." - Thomas Brooks

"Those who can find no ears to hear what you say, will find many eyes to see what you do." - Thomas Brooks

"Humility is knowing that we are not humble." - Thomas Adam

"Passion is what you are willing to suffer for." - Denny Kenaston

"They that are of a froward heart, are abomination to the Lord: But such that are upright in their way, are His delight." - Proverbs 11:20

"Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them." - Proverbs 22:5

"Lopping off the branches of sin is labour in vain, and always to be renewed, there is no way but laying the axe to the root."

"Sin should sit heavier on the soul, and cut deeper into the heart, than the loss of a first-born. Blessed are they that mourn; and who has not cause for it?"

- Thomas Adam (Private Thoughts on Religion; Second edition, MDCCXCV; Quotes taken from page 110)

"At first neither flesh nor spirit seemed reconciled to the Cross. The spirit partially yielded; still resorting to various evasions. At length, brought to a full submission to the will of His Lord, he had bowed the neck, and followed Him implicitly."

- Excerpt from "The Cross-Bearer; A Vision (1861)"; American Tract Society; taken from page 166

"If thou wouldst be faithful to do the work that God hath appointed thee to do in this world for His Name, then beware thou do not stop and stick when hard work comes before thee. The word and Spirit of God come sometimes like chain-shot to us, as if they would cut down all - as when Abraham was to offer up Isaac. Oh, how willingly would our flesh and blood escape the cross for Christ! With Ephraim, we like to tread out the corn, and to hear those pleasant songs and music that gospel-sermon make, where only grace is preached, and nothing of our duty as to works of self-denial." - Bunyan

- Excerpt from "The Cross-Bearer; A Vision (1861)"; American Tract Society; taken from pages 57 & 58

If your opinion means more to you then the Holy Word of God, you are not born again! My pastor.

"I believe one of the ways that the enemy wears down the saints is to get them discouraged. When trials come, when distresses come, when temptations come, when adversity comes; we begin to look at our circumstances,... we begin to look at our present distress, and our spirits begin to sag." - Aaron Hurst (From his sermon, "Be Patient Therefore Brethren"; 6:17 into audio)

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." - James 5:10-11

"Thousands of correct, and smooth, and prim, and proper clergymen are creeping through this world, who never broke a canon of taste in the pulpit, never told an anecdote, never used a vulgar illustration, and never raised a smile. They have their reward! Their educated friends and relations admire them, and the world praises them. But they never prick a conscience, never frighten a sinner, never build up a saint, never pull down a single stone of the devil's kingdom - never save a soul."

- John C Ryle (Excerpt from his book, "Christian Leaders of the 18th Century"; First published 1885, this reprint edition 2002; Banner Of Truth Trust; Page 239)

"All the world cannot pull down an humble man, because God will exalt him; and all the world cannot exalt a proud man, because God will pull him down." - #626

"He that sows not holiness in the seed-time of his life, cannot expect to reap happiness in the harvest of eternity." - #627

- Quotes compiled by Ralph Venning ("Milk and Honey; or, a miscellaneous collation of many Christian experiences, sayings, sentences, and several places of scripture improved"; Written in 1653; Sold by West & Hughs, London, 1800; from page 73)

"It is good to acknowledge God to be just, and it is just to acknowledge God to be good in all his ways." - #1

"An heart without words, is better than words without an heart in the duty of prayer." - #2

"A good conscience without a good name, is better than a good name without a good conscience." - #3

"Goodness without greatness, is better than greatness without goodness." - #4

"A gracious heart desires not only to walk holily, but also to walk wholly with God." - #5

"Men judge of our hearts by our words and works, but God judgeth of our words and works by our hearts." - #7

"It is less painful to suffer than to sin; for one may suffer without sin, but one cannot sin without suffering." - #10

"He that walks only by the light of nature, walks in darkness." -#11
- "The lamp of nature lends
But a false light, and lights to her own ends"

"The vilest sinners once converted become the strictest saints." - #12

- Quotes compiled by Ralph Venning ("Milk and Honey; or, a miscellaneous collation of many Christian experiences, sayings, sentences, and several places of scripture improved"; Written in 1653; This edition 1800; from pages 3&4)

"Yes, beloved, Once saved always saved, If you stay saved!" - Keith Daniel

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of rememberance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His Name." - Malachi 3:16

"Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?" - Malachi 2:17

"The more wicked men grow, the less ashamed they are of themselves; and the more holy men grow, the more they learn to abhor themselves." - John Berridge (1716 - 1793)

"They preached fervently and directly. They cast aside that dull, cold, heavy, lifeless mode of delivery, which had long made sermons a very proverb for dulness. They proclaimed the words of faith with faith, and the story of life with life. They spoke with fiery zeal, like men who were thoroughly persuaded that what they said was true, and that it was of the utmost importance to your eternal interest to hear it. They spoke like men who had got a message from God to you, and must deliver it, and must have your attention while they delivered it. They threw heart and soul and feeling into their sermons, and sent their hearers home convinced, at any rate, that the preacher was sincere and wished them well. They believed that you must speak from the heart if you wish to speak to the heart, and there must be unmistakeable faith and conviction within the pulpit if there is to be faith and conviction among the pews."

- Excerpt from John C Ryle's, "Christian Leaders of The 18th Century"; First published 1885, This reprint edition 2002 by 'The Banner of Truth Trust'; from page 25.

"With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward." - Psalms 18:26

"Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them." - Proverbs 22:5

"They that are of a froward heart, are abomination to the Lord: But such that are upright in their way, are His delight." - Proverbs 11:20

"With the pure Thou wilt shew thyself pure: and with the froward Thou wilt shew thyself unsavory." - 2Samuel 22:27

"Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. And when the Lord saw it, He abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And He said, 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in Mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them'." - Deuteronomy 32:18-23

"But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were are examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." - 1Corinthians 10:5-12

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." - Matthew 5:4-8

Froward: "Turned or looking from (God). Perverse, that is, turning from with aversion or reluctance; not willing to yield or comply with what is required; unyielding; ungovernable; refractory; disobedient; peevish; as a froward child" - Webster's American Dictionary Of The English Language; 1812 Edition

"Many assent to the truth of Scripture, and make use of it to paint their faces, but will not suffer it to get within them, nor come to near the heart,"(Page 106)

"No man is humbled or sincere with God, till he is willing to know the worst of himself."(Page 155)

"The Scripture was written to be transcribed into the heart, and it has its effect when the heart is in such full consent and agreement therein, that the Scripture might have been copied from it."(Page 105)

"We may find out the selfish stubbornness of our wills, unmortified desires, and earthly bent in small crosses, when we do not in greater. Great crosses seem to furnish some excuse for complaint, and nature is more pitied than blamed for sinking under them; but small ones, fretting and galling us, afford no refuge against conviction."(Page 128)

"we go to commentators for the most part, because we are afraid to take Christ and His apostles upon their own Word. If we had a simple faith, we should seldom want others to explain their meaning." (Page 104)

"The Scripture is unto us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time gazing upon it; observing its motions, and admiring its splendour, without being led to Christ by it, the use of it will be lost to us.
Perhaps it may be a good rule in the reading of Scripture, not to run from one passage to another, or suppose it a duty to read a certain portion of it every day, but to dwell upon particular passages, till they have in some measure done their office.
Everyone should apply Scripture to himself, as if it was written for him only.
Scripture reading is a feast indeed, when we find in ourselves a disposition to receive it in truth and simplicity." (Page 103)

- These quotes above were extracted from Thomas Adam's own diary, put into a book-form after he went into eternity, and titled, "Private Thoughts On Religion..."; Second edition; MDCCXCV

"God may sometimes lead a good man to this saddest of trials, to know all that is in his heart as He left the good king Hezekiah (2Cronicles 32:31). We are not over-forward or over-willing to believe ourselves to be so bad as we really are in our hearts. We do not know what seeds of evil are sown there."

- Ralph Venning (Excerpt from his book, "The Sinfulness of Sin"; page 126; First published 1669; The Banner of Truth Trust, reprint edition 2008)

"An impediment in his speech had made him give up the thought of being a Covenanting minister, but here was his own Bible School where he taught youth to resist unto blood, striving against sin. In the summer time they held their classes in the sheepfold, and in the winter they sat around the peat fire in the kitchen. We rightly look upon John Brown of Priesthill as being one of our first founders of Bible Classes and Sunday Schools."

- Taken from the blessed book, "Fair Sunshine: Character Studies of the Scottish Covenanters", by Jock Purves; The Banner of Truth Trust: Reprint edition 2015; page 53

(45)"But and if that servant say in his heart, 'My lord delayeth his coming'; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

(46)The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

(47)And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

- The Words of Christ Jesus (Luke 12:45-47; kjv)

"Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are."

-- Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

A personal one for me right now, as I fight a heavy spiritual battle, is this:

"Indeed I can put it, finally like this; the ultimate cause of all spiritual depression is unbelief. For if it were not unbelief even the devil could do nothing. It is because we listen to the devil instead of listening to God that we go down before him and fall before his attacks."

-- Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

"Some of you have read the words of that aged saint who, on his ninetieth birthday, told of all God’s goodness to him””I mean George Muller. What did he say he believed to be the secret of his happiness, and of all the blessing which God had given him? He said he believed there were two reasons. The one was that he had been enabled by grace to maintain a good conscience before God day by day; the other was, that he was a lover of God’s Word. Ah, yes, a good conscience is complete obedience to God day by day, and fellowship with God every day in His Word, and prayer””that is a life of absolute surrender."

- Andrew Murray

"Let me say to you, again, grieve very much if there is the least cloud between you and Christ. Do not wait until it is as thick as a November fog””be full of sorrow if it is only like a tiny, fleecy cloud! George Muller's observation was a very wise one, "Never come out of your chamber in the morning until everything is right between you and God." Keep in perpetual fellowship with Jesus and thus you can be with Him and yet be serving Him at the same time!"

- Charles Spurgeon

We err in that we judge the work of God according to our own feelings, and regard not His will but our own desire.
~ Martin Luther

"I believe..the life of the Christian should be a perpetual crisis of dependence upon the living God, and that's exactly what the flesh hates. Our lives should be a perpetual crisis of dependence upon the living God.
God is always trying to stir up the nest [in our lives], and we’re always trying to feather it."

- William MacDonald, sermon: "God Wants The Best”

(I honestly would almost like to quote the whole sermon, no joke.) It has struck my heart deeply.

Blessings to you

I am weary of hearing people say we don't have time to pray today. It's not a lack of time it's a lack of desire. You name time for what. You really want to do. David Wilkerson

God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. ~ Oswald Chambers

Some quote floating around the Internet:

"Religion says: God will love us if we change.

The gospel says: God's love changes us."

Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, "in Christ."

Watchman Nee

The millennium exists to demonstrate before the world and the principalities and powers, that indeed this land and this people will be what God promised they will be, and the rebuke will be given to the words, "Has God really said?"
~ Reggie Kelly, The Underground Episode 43 : Discussing Premillennialism with Reggie Kelly

post deleted

"God cannot, as people sometimes think, send sickness or trouble, or accidents...much less death...for these things are unlike His nature."

"alamb",

It appears to me upon a bit of internet research that Emmet Fox was not a Christian and that the "New Thought" and "Divine Science" movements are also erroneous/heretical movements.

I was lead to check this out on the basis that the above quote is patently unbiblical and one cannot hold to the inspiration of scripture and biblical inerrancy and believe the quote above. While the premise is sound (God is purely Good and Holy) - I could cite many times when the bible (in both the old and new testament) flat out contradicts the conclusion of the above quote.

I believe the problem arises when our point of reference is amiss. God is good, man - in and of himself, is not. Therefore it is in agreement with God's Holy Nature to punish and judge evil. If man were good and had never done wrong and 'evils' still befell him - this would be harder to reconcile with God's nature.

Now, in a fallen and sin-sick world, suffering and 'evil' does befall the righteous; including Jesus Christ Himself. This is in agreement with self-sacrificial love, which is also God's nature (to His eternal praise and our eternal joy).

But there are many, many instances in the Bible of sickness, suffering and death coming directly from God's hand and also by His word through ministers of His.

A few instances:
* Capitol punishment under the Law of Moses.
* The flood of Noah's day.
* Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the pain.
* The "Fiery Serpents" in the wilderness.
* The destruction of Jericho and other sinful cities, apparently including the killing of women and children.
* The death of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea.
* The death of the firstborn in Egypt.
* The Death of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
* The 'hand of the Lord' striking a man with blindness through Paul in Acts 13.

I truly hope you will consider my words and test this man and his doctrine by the Lord Jesus and His teaching and practice, as well as that of His apostles.

Grace to you in Jesus' Life Giving Name.

It might be Greg, but I saw a quote from E.M. Bounds on this Forum; where E.M Bounds was reflecting on the preachers of his day, who lack the power of prayer. They, like the money changers and those that sold oxen and sheep in Jesus' time, use the ministry of preaching to profit from their writings, and such.
Does anyone remember the full article from which the quote was taken.

The Scriptures are clear: Jesus will rule on the throne of David and over David's kingdom. Was David's throne or his kingdom ever in heaven? ~ Joel Richardson ”@Joel7Richardson

A minister must be: "(4) Zealous in reproving sin. "Rebuke them sharply" Titus 1: 13. A man of God must suck the fire of zeal out of the breasts of Scripture! Zeal in a minister is as proper as fire on the altar. Some are afraid to reprove, like the swordfish which has a sword in his head, but is without a heart. So they carry the sword of the Spirit with them””but have no heart to draw it out in reproof against sin. How many have sown pillows under their people, Ezek. 13: 18, making them sleep so securely, that they never awoke until they were in hell!

Thomas Watson

Spiritual gifts are supernatural empowerments given by the Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ so that they can do the work of building up the body of Christ, that is, the church, and extend the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

A. B. Simpson

"Blessed is that man who has done with chance,[ 3] who never speaks of luck, but believes that from the least even to the greatest, all things are ordained of the Lord. We dare not leave out the least event! The creeping of an aphid upon a rosebud is as surely arranged by the decree of Providence as the march of a pestilence through a nation. Believe this, for if the least is omitted from the supreme government, so may the next be, and the next, until nothing is left in the Divine hands. There is no place for chance, since God fills all things.””“1891, Sermon 2205 Charles Spurgeon

"If the business of this day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go forth to meet him."
Charles Spurgeon