The Pillow of God's Omnipotence!!

Let us mark the mighty principle which the angel Gabriel lays down to silence all objections about the incarnation: "With God nothing shall be impossible." A hearty reception of this great principle is of immense importance to our own inward peace. Questions and doubts will often arise in men's minds about many subjects in religion. They are the natural result of our fallen estate of soul. 

Our faith at the best is very feeble. Our knowledge at its highest is clouded with much infirmity. And among many antidotes to a doubting, anxious, questioning state of mind, few will be found more useful than that before us now a thorough conviction of God's omnipotence.  With Him who called the world into being and formed it out of nothing, everything is possible. 

Nothing is too hard for the Lord. There is no sin too black and bad to be pardoned. The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. There is no heart too hard and wicked to be changed. The heart of stone can be made a heart of flesh. There is no work too hard for a believer to do. We may do all things through Christ strengthening us. There is no trial too hard to be borne. The grace of God is sufficient for us. There is no promise too great to be fulfilled. Christ's words never pass away and what He has promised, He is able to perform. There is no difficulty too great for a believer to overcome. 

When God is for us then who can be against us? The mountain shall become a plain! Let principles like these be continually before our minds. The angel's maxim is an invaluable remedy. Faith never rests so calmly and peacefully as when it lays its head on the pillow of God's omnipotence!

[J. C. Ryle]

Matthew 19:26 ... But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Luke 1:37 ... For with God nothing shall be impossible. ❤

Beware of The Basilisk Eye of Sin!

[In medieval legend, a basilisk was a deadly serpent/dragon-like creature. Anyone who looked directly into its eyes would be instantly struck dead!]

God's children sin, and sometimes grievously for they are still in the flesh. If they are in a right state of heart, then they will mourn over their sin, and it will be the burden of their lives. Oh, that they could only live without sin! 

It is this inability to sin, that they sigh after, and they can never be fully happy until they obtain it, as they enter Heaven. Why was David silent when he knew that he had committed these heinous sins? Why did he not go to God at once? It was partly because he was mesmerized by his sin. He was fascinated, captivated, and held in bondage by it. 

Oh brethren, beware of the basilisk eye of sin. It is dangerous to even look at sin, for looking leads to longing for sin. And this often leads to a lusting after sin, and that lusting soon ripens into the actual indulgence in the sin. No man even thinks of sinning, without damage to his soul. Yes, every sinful thought leaves a mark and a stain upon our soul that calls for us to weep it out nay, it needs Christ's blood to wash it away. 

We begin with thinking of sin, and then we somewhat desire the sin. Next, we enter into a mental dialog with the sin, and then we get into the sin, and the sin gets into us and then we lie a soak in it. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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1 John 1:9 ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:5 ... I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. ❤

Two Words ...

When the enemy comes at you, just remember these two words ~~~ but God!!

Genesis 50:20 ... But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Exodus 13:18 ... But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Psalm 73:26 ... My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 49:15 ... But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Proverbs 21:12 ... The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Isaiah 17:13 ... The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Romans 5:8 ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 3:6 ... I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ... There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Ephesians 2:4 ... But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

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Christ in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit here reminds us that the message of the Old Testament is the same as that of the New: Christ crucified! The Bible, the Word of God, is one; and its message is one the gospel of Christ! Christ is the sum and substance of the Old Testament! To Him, the earliest promises pointed in the days of Adam, Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

To Him, every sacrifice pointed in the ceremonial worship appointed at Mount Sinai. Of Him every high priest was a type, every part of the tabernacle was a shadow, and every judge and deliverer of Israel was a picture! If we read only that which was written by Moses in the books of the law, we would see Christ everywhere! 

Jesus is the Seed of the woman, who would break the serpent's head. He is the Seed of Abraham, in whom all nations would be blessed. He is the great Prophet like Moses, who would teach His redeemed people. Not only is Christ crucified the message of Moses, but He is also the message of all the prophets. When Philip described Christ to Nathanael, he said, "We have found the One who Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, "Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph!" (John 1:45) 

All the law and all the prophets spoke of Him! They wrote of his birth through a virgin's womb, and the place of his birth, Bethlehem. The prophets spoke of the Savior's sufferings and the glory that would follow. And they wrote about many things relating to His person, offices, and work as Jehovah's righteous servant. They described Him plainly as the King of the house of David, who came to be David's Lord, as well as David's son. 

Jesus is the Lamb foretold by Isaiah, the righteous Branch mentioned by Jeremiah, the true Shepherd described by Ezekiel, the Messenger of the Covenant promised by Malachi, and the Messiah who, according to Daniel, was to be cut off, not for Himself, but for His people! Do we find it difficult to see Christ in the Old Testament? It is our spiritual blindness and ignorance that is to blame. The eyes of our understanding need to be enlightened. The veil needs to be taken away. 

Let us pray as we open the Scriptures: "O Spirit of God, open this Book to my heart and open my heart to this Book. Take the things of Christ written upon these pages and show them to me!" The whole book of God is about our Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious accomplishments as our God-man Mediator! 

[Don Fortner] 

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1 Peter 1:10-11 ... Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Luke 24:27 ... And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:44 ... And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ❤

A Thief on The Cross

The thief on the cross had nothing. No baptism. No communion. No confirmation. No church membership. No mission work. No offering plate. No spiritual résumé. He couldn’t kneel. Nails held him in place. He couldn’t lift his hands in worship. Couldn’t whisper a prayer. Couldn’t walk to an altar. He was naked. Bleeding. Condemned. 

Jesus didn’t stop his pain. Didn’t heal his body. Didn’t silence the crowd. Didn’t take him down from the cross. All the thief had was a dying breath. And he used it to say: “Lord, remember me.” And the bloodied Savior beaten, mocked, dying beside him looked his way and said: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” 

No theology degree. No powerful sermon. No music. No lights. No platform. No performance. Just a broken man, beside the Son of God, whispering a simple belief. And it was enough. He believed. That’s it. That’s everything. He walked into paradise. Not because of what he did, but because of who Jesus is. 

The criminal saw clearly in his final breath What religion often clouds over a lifetime: Salvation isn’t earned. It’s given. Freely. Through Jesus alone. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

A thief. 

A cross. 

A Savior. 

A promise. 

That. Is. Enough.

[message from the Internet]

Luke 23:39-43 ... And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. ❤

The New Road!

Some time ago, as I was walking in the country, I saw a number of men at work near the road, and said to one of them, "Well, friend, what are you doing?"

"Why, sir," said he, "we are making a new road to the great house. The old road you will see winding round the hill is very crooked and rather dangerous, beside which you see there's a tollgate at the bottom of it."

"Then you are about to make a straight road that will be shorter, easier, safer, and will avoid the tollgate."

"Yes, sir; that's just it."

"That," said I, "is just what the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to do, and what He has done; He has made a new road to His Father's house, a road that is just suited to sinners."

[James Smith]

John 14:6 ... Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Psalm 119:35 ... Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Matthew 7:13-14 ... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ❤

The Most Slippery Serpent on Earth!

Did you know that you will not find the wickedest man alive, in a night club but in a church building. He is not in prison but in the pastorate. The wickedest man alive, does not wear an orange jumpsuit he wears a three-piece suit. He does not wear handcuffs but handsome cufflinks. He doesn't traffic in drugs he traffics in the souls of men. He doesn't butcher bodies he butchers the souls of men and the truth of God. He does not sit on death row but on a church platform. 

The most violent man alive, is not a terrorist but a religionist. He is not a rapist but an evangelist. He's not an atheist but a Baptist. He's not a gang member but a church member. The most dangerous man alive, doesn't even own a gun he owns a Bible. The most treacherous man on earth, is not a vulgar man of ill-repute but respectable, kind and well-polished.  He won't cuss you he'll bless you. He will not speak of profane things but of holy things. 

The vilest man on earth, will not talk to you about filth but about God. The most deceitful man alive, doesn't spend his time devising acts of terrorism but preparing sermons. The most violent criminal in the world, doesn't even break the law he keeps the law. The most slippery serpent on earth, will not be found in the gutter but in the pulpit. The deadliest man in the world, is not in organized crime but in organized religion. The wickedest man alive, is not a pimp but a Pharisee. The most perverse man on earth, is not a pornographer but a theologian. 

Mark it down, and never forget it: The wickedest, vilest, most deceptive, most deadly, most treacherous, blood-thirsty villain alive is not a criminal, a porn addict, a pervert, a pedophile or a pusher he's a preacher! 

The wickedest man alive is a wolf but he is no ordinary wolf. He is a wolf who looks, smells, talks, walks, and acts just like a sheep! He says he wants to help you, to guide you to the Lord. And therein lies the greatness of his wickedness, the treachery of his speech, and the poison of his sting! 

[Frank Hall] 

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Matthew 7:15 ... Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 ... For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Acts 20:28-29 ... Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ❤

12 Promises...

12 Promises Every Parent Should Ask God to Fulfill:

Isaiah 59:21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Psalm 102:28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalm 112:1-2 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!  His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed

Isaiah 44:3-5 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.  This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.

Isaiah 61:8-9 I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.

Isaiah 65:23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him.

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Jeremiah 32:39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4:40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

Acts 16:31-33 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

[12 Promises Every Parent Should Ask God to Fulfill - Topical Studies | Bible Study Tools ]

Don't stop praying for your children!!

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Something Peculiar, Distinct, and Different!!

The effects of the Spirit's work in conversion will always be seen. Those effects may be weak and feeble at first. But there where there is true conversion, some fruit will always be seen. Where no effect can be seen there you may be sure is no grace. Where no visible fruit can be found there you may be sure is no true conversion. 

Does anyone ask me what we may expect to see in a true conversion? I reply: There will always be something seen in a converted man's character, and feelings, and conduct, and opinions, and daily life. You will not see perfection in him, but you will see in him something peculiar, distinct, and different from other people. 

You will see him hating sin, loving Christ, following after holiness, taking pleasure in his Bible, persevering in prayer. You will see him penitent, humble, believing, temperate, charitable, truthful, good-tempered, patient, upright, honorable, kind. These, at any rate, will be his aims, these are the things which he will follow after, however short he may come of perfection. 

In some converted people you will see these things more distinctly, in others less. This only I say, wherever there is conversion, something of this kind will be seen. True conversion is a thing that can always be seen. Never, never, will I allow that the blessed Spirit can be in a man's heart when no fruit of the Spirit can be seen in his life! 

A conversion which allows a man to live in sin, to lie, and drink, and swear is not the conversion of the Bible. It is a counterfeit conversion, which can only please the devil, and will lead the man who is satisfied with it not to Heaven, but to Hell! 

[J.C. Ryle]

2 Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 12:2 ...  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Titus 2:14 ... Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  ❤

Does Jesus Think On Me?

Jesus of Nazareth, the sinless Son of God was hated without cause, arrested, beaten, mocked, spat upon, shamed, stripped of His clothes, crowned with thorns, publicly humiliated, nailed to a cross, and died in agony! 

What is the first thing He says while hanging upon the cruel tree? Does He ask His Father to send a legion of angels to destroy His persecutors? Does He condemn His unjust executioners? Does He call for fire and brimstone to fall on these wicked devils? That is what we would do, is it not? But He is not like us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts! 

Instead of words of wrath we hear words of mercy. Instead of a consuming fire we see forgiveness. Oh, what unfathomable grace! His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours!" John 17:9. He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." 

Child of God, be of good comfort you were on the heart of Jesus as He hung upon the cross! You may ask yourself: Does Jesus think on me? Does He notice me? Does He love me? Oh, you of little faith! You are always on His heart! You were on His heart in eternity past! You were on His heart when He was in such anguish in the Garden, that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood! You were on His heart on the cruel cross! And you are on His heart now in glory! 

As He died in bloody agony under the wrath of God, He was thinking of you! "Father, forgive the sin of My poor, ignorant, rebellious child; for he knows not what he does!" 

[Frank Hall]

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Praise For Redeeming Love!!

He loved us!  Jesus loved us! We could not have believed it had it not been written in the Word of God. For why should He have loved us? There was nothing good in us, nothing worthy of His love. We hated Him yet He loved us! The Bible says so. It is true; therefore, astonishing yet true. Sinners as we were, sinners as we are yet Jesus loved us. And if now, through grace, we love Him it is "because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) 

He loved us so much, that He forgave and washed us from all our sins. It was the one thing without which we could never have known happiness nay, without it we must have been lost forever. He might have done a thousand other things for us, but if He had left this thing undone, all the rest would have been in vain. But He did not leave it undone. Because He loved us, He "washed us from our sins in His own blood." Yes, in His own blood!  There was nothing else that could wash away so deep a stain nothing else that could pay our debt and save our souls. Silver and gold could not redeem us (1 Peter 1:18); the blood of goats and calves could not atone for our sins. (Hebrews 9:12) 

It must be His own blood the precious blood of Christ. It was a fathomless and painful sacrifice, so painful that He cried to His Father, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me." But He added, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 16:39) He would not draw back. He would not even withhold His life. "Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) "You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:6-8) 

This love He showed toward us. He laid down His life for us. He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood! 

Blessed Savior! How can we love You enough for Your great love to us? You gave Your blood for us what can we give to You? You endured for us the agony in the garden, the shame, the mocking, the cross what would You have us to bear for You? You withheld nothing from us oh, help us to withhold nothing from You! May we give You our whole hearts and love You above all, and bear with patience all that You call us to suffer. When He had redeemed us by His blood, then He raised us to wonderful happiness and glory. He "has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father!" This is mentioned again in the song of the elders, in the fifth chapter, "You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth!" 

[Francis Bourdillon]

 

Revelation 1:5-6 ... And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ❤