Strength ...

 The Christian's strength lies in the LORD, not in himself.

[William Gurnall]

Isaiah 40:29 ... He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. ❤

A Heaven Unto Me!

That knowledge which accompanies salvation, is a heart-affecting knowledge. It affects the heart with Christ, and all spiritual things. Oh, it does wonderfully endear Christ and the things of Christ to the soul. "Oh, feed me with Your love Your 'raisins' and Your 'apples' for I am utterly lovesick!" Song of Songs 2:5 "Oh," says the spouse, "my heart is taken with Christ, it is ravished with His love; my soul is burning, my soul is beating towards Christ. 

Oh, none but Christ, none but Christ! I cannot live in myself, I cannot live in my duties, I cannot live in external privileges, I cannot live in outward mercies; I can live only in Christ, who is my life, my love, my joy, my crown, my all in all. Oh, the more I come to know Him in His natures, in His names, in His offices, in His discoveries, in His visits, in His beauties, the more I find my heart and affections to prize Christ, to run after Christ, to be affected with Christ, and to be wonderfully endeared to Christ! 

 

Oh God, forbid that my heart should be affected or taken with anything in comparison with Christ. The more I know Him, the more I love Him; the more I know Him, the more I desire Him; the more I know Him, the more my heart is knit unto Him. His beauty is captivating, His love is ravishing, His goodness is attracting, His manifestations are enticing, His person is enamoring, His lovely looks please me, His pleasant voice delights me, His precious Spirit comforts me, His holy Word rules me. 

All these things make Christ to be a heaven unto me! Oh, but all that mere notional knowledge, that speculative knowledge, which leaves a man short of salvation never affects the heart; it never draws it, it never endears the heart to Christ, or to the precious things of Christ. Hence it is that such men, under all their notions, under all their light and knowledge, have no affection to Christ, no delight in Christ, no workings of heart after Christ.

[Thomas Brooks]

1 Corinthians 16:22 ... If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

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Made of Honey and Sugar!

A new god has been lately invented by men: the god of modern Christianity, the god of modern thought, a god made of honey and sugar. He is all leniency, gentleness, mildness, and indifference to sin. Justice is not in him; and as for the punishment of sin, he knows nothing about it. The Old Testament, they say, takes a very harsh view of God; and therefore, modern wisdom sets it aside. Indeed, two-thirds of the Word of God is now out of date and turned into wastepaper. The advanced thinkers of these enlightened times, tell us that the idea of God in the Old Testament is a false one. 

We are to believe in a new god, who does not care whether we do right or wrong; for by his arrangement, all people will come to the same end in the long run. Live as you like, carouse and swear and drink and you shall go to Heaven at last. This is the modern creed which poisons our whole society. 

But let me say that Jehovah, the Judge of all the earth, is a just and righteous God. He has not changed one iota in the stern integrity of His nature, and He will by no means spare the guilty. "Surely God will smash the heads of His enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways." It is clear from these words, that God is not indifferent to human sinfulness. Our God knows His enemies, and He does not mistake them for friends, nor treat them as such. He regards all sin as an offense to Himself. God does not wink at human sin; but calls upon all men everywhere to repent. 

It is obvious that God has the power to smite those who rebel against Him, "Surely God will smash the heads of His enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways." When the Lord puts His hand to the work of vengeance, then His smiting will be dreadful. If He does not smite His enemies until the hour of death, what a blow will they then receive! They boasted of their self-righteousness and their goodness; but oh, what terror will seize them when at the last moment, while they dream of Heaven; they are smitten down into Hell for their daring rebellion against the King of kings! I am not like those flatterers who tell you that there are a little Hell and a little God, from which you naturally infer that you may live as you like. There is a dreadful Hell, for there is a righteous God. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Psalm 68:21 ... But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

Psalm 50:22 ...  Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. ❤

On Whom Do I Trust?

Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's answer and see if it is yours. 

"On whom do you trust?" "I trust," says the Christian, "in the triune God of Scripture!" I trust the Father, believing that He has chosen me from before the foundation of the world. I trust Him to provide for me in His providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me, if need be, and to bring me home to His own house where the many mansions are! I trust the son. The man Christ Jesus is also the true God. I trust in Him as my Redeemer to take away all my sins by His atoning sacrifice, and to adorn me with His perfect righteousness. 

I trust Him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before His Father's throne. I trust Him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust Him for what He is, for what He has done, and for what He has promised yet to do! I trust the Holy Spirit. He has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust Him to finally drive them all out.  I trust Him to curb my debased temperament, to subdue my stubborn will, to enlighten my darkened understanding, to check my evil passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my spiritual weakness, to provide my spiritual nourishment, to reign in me as my loving King, to sanctify me wholly, and then to take me up to dwell forever in glory! 

Oh, blessed trust! To trust Him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be confounded, and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution! Happy are you, reader, if this trust is yours! So, trusting, you shall enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter! The foundation of your trust shall never be removed! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Isaiah 36:5 ...  I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Proverbs 3:5 ... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Nahum 1:7 ...  The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. ❤

The Hell of Hell

As there are a diversity of torments in Hell, so the torments of Hell are eternal. "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!" Matthew 25:41 The sentence which shall be passed upon them, is eternal. God Himself, who damns them, is eternal. The prison and chains which hold them, are eternal. The worm which gnaws them, is eternal. The fire which torments them, is eternal.  Grievous is the torment of the damned, for the bitterness of the punishments. It is more grievous, for the diversity of the punishments. But it is most grievous, for the eternity of the punishments! 

If, after so many millions of years as there are drops in the ocean, there might be a deliverance out of Hell this would yield a little ease, a little comfort to the damned. But oh, this word, Eternity! this word, Everlasting! this word, forever! will break the hearts of the damned into ten thousand pieces! Suppose that the whole world was turned into a mountain of sand, and that a little bird would come once every thousand years and carry away one grain of sand from that heap. What an infinite number of years would be spent before this great mountain of sand would be fetched away! 

Just so, if a man should lie in everlasting burnings so long a time as this and then have an end of his woe it would give him some ease, some hope, and some comfort. But when that immortal bird shall have carried away this great mountain of sand, a thousand times over and over alas, alas, sinful man shall be as far from the end of his anguish and torment as ever he was! He shall be no nearer coming out of Hell, than he was the very first moment that he entered into Hell! Suppose, say others, that a man were to endure the torments of Hell for as many years as there are sands on the sea-shore, drops of water in the sea, stars in the heavens, leaves on the trees, blades of grass on the ground then he would comfort himself with this poor thought, "Well, there will come a day when my misery and torment shall have an end." But woe and alas! 

This word, "Forever! Forever! Forever!" will fill the hearts of the damned with the greatest horror and terror, anger and rage, bewilderment and astonishment! If the fire of Hell were terminable, then it might be tolerable. But being endless, it must needs be ease less, and remediless. The eternity of Hell is the hell of Hell. The damned shall live as long in Hell as long as God Himself shall live in Heaven! The reprobate shall have punishment, without pity, misery, without mercy, sorrow, without support, crying, without compassion, mischief, without measure, and torment, without end! "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:46 

All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were due to the elect fell on Christ, until divine justice was fully satisfied! "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:9 Oh, exalt and extol that Savior, who has loved you, and saved you from that eternal wrath! 

[Thomas Brooks]

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The Scripture and Prayer

Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit for such things as God has promised.

[John Bunyan]

James 5:14 ...  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Matthew 21:22 ...  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Romans 12:12 ... Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Ephesians 6:18 ... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Philippians 4:6 ... Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Colossians 4:2 ... Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

1 Peter 4:7 ... But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Proverbs 15:29 ... he Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Psalm 6:9 ... The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Psalm 102:17 ... He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. ❤

Flowers in the Lord's Garden

We are taught in these verses, that there are widely different temperaments in different believers. This is a point which is curiously brought out in the conduct of Peter and John, when Mary told them that the Lord's body was gone. We are told that they both ran to the sepulcher; but John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, outran Peter, and reached the empty grave first. Then the difference between the two men comes out. 

John, of the two more gentle, quiet, tender, reserved, retiring, deep feeling, stooped down and looked in, but went no further. Peter, hotter, and zealous, and impulsive, and fervent, and forward, cannot be content without going down into the sepulcher, and actually seeing with his own eyes. Both, we may be sure, were deeply attached to our Lord. The hearts of both, at this critical juncture, were full of hopes, and fears, and anxieties, and expectations all tangled together. 

Yet each behaves in his own characteristic fashion. We need not doubt that these things were intentionally written for our learning. Let us learn, from the case before us, to make allowances for wide varieties in the inward character of believers. To do so will save us much trouble in the journey of life and prevent many an uncharitable thought. Let us not judge brethren harshly, and set them down in a low place, because they do not see or feel things exactly as we see and feel, and because things do not affect or strike them just as they affect and strike us. 

The flowers in the Lord's garden are not all of one color and one scent, though they are all planted by one Spirit. The subjects of His kingdom are not all exactly of one tone and temperament, though they all love the same Savior, and are written in the same Book of Life. The Church of Christ has some in its ranks who are like Peter, and some who are like John; and a place for all, and a work for all to do. Let us love all who love Christ in sincerity, and to thank God that they love Him at all. The great thing is to love Jesus! 

[J. C. Ryle] 

John 20:3-6 ... Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

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This God is Mine!!

Deuteronomy 32:9, "The Lord's portion is His people!"

Lamentations 3:24, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

The above two passages of Scripture ought never to be separated.

God and my soul possess each other.

God finds His portion in His people and His people find their portion in their God!

This God is mine, in all His glorious perfection!

His heart is mine, for He loves me with an infinite love.

His ear is mine, for I may pour into it all my tales of sorrow, and all my songs of joy.

His eyes are mine, for they keep watch on me from morning until night.

His hand is mine, for it is ever stretched out to uphold me.

He is a God of infinite glory!

[Archibald Brown]

Psalm 48:14 ...  For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

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Unfailing Happiness!!

Here is one of the sweetest privileges of the Christian life. The Christian is God's beloved child and shares all the love and tenderness of the Father's heart!

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness! 

"I am at home with God!  Once I was far off but now, I am brought near.  Once I was a stranger but now, I am His beloved child!  Once the thought of His presence was fear and dread but now it is life, and joy and peace. He is my Father, and in this Name all heart-joys meet. He knows me by name, and cares for me in all my cares. He pities me, and in tender compassion marks each tear I shed, and each sorrow that weighs upon my heart.  He opens His hand, and each day gives me all that I need. He bows down His ear and hearkens to each prayer I offer.  I have boldness and liberty to go at all times into His presence-chamber and may tell Him my every desire and ask of Him whatever is for my good."

[George Everard]

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Ephesians 1:5 ...  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Galatians 3:26 ... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:1 ... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ❤

Preaching of The Cross

Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favorite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all his other works. 

 [Matthew Henry]

Romans 1:16 ... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Hebrews 4:12 ...  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ... For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ❤

By Him ...

This is one of the reasons why he is called "the image of God," and the "first-born." He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by the apostle is universal. He does not declare that he created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that he arranged the events of the gospel dispensation; but that everything was created by him. 

[Barnes Notes on The Bible]

Colossians 1:16 ... For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

John 1:3 ... All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ❤