Rest ...

There is no rest for the Christian in this world. There will be always something to disturb, perplex or distress him; it is an enemy's land. But Jesus says, "I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He does so by enabling us to rely on His Word, recognize His hand, submit to His will, and trust in His perfect work. 

He assures us that our sins are forgiven; that we are safe in His keeping; that His presence shall always be with us; and that all things shall work together for our eternal good. We can rest on His faithfulness for He has been tried and found faithful. 

We can rest on His love for He loves us to the uttermost. We can rest on His power for it is ever engaged on our behalf. We can rest on His covenant for it is ordered in all things and sure. We can rest on His blood for it speaks peace, pardon, and acceptance with God. We can rest at His feet for there we are safe and can never be injured. 

We cannot rest on our graces, on our comforts, on our friends, or on our possessions. We may rest on Jesus alone!

[James Smith]

 

Psalm 62:5-6 ... My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

Hebrews 4:9 ... There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ❤

I Might Have Escaped All This Misery!

Let me imagine myself to have died impenitent. It would seem that the first moment after death must be one of unparalleled misery. My first reflections would be: "I am lost forever! All hope of happiness or relief is gone from my miserable soul! The blackness of darkness is round about me! No ray of light dawns on my wretched soul! Despair, terrible despair has now seized upon me and must blacken every prospect to all eternity!

While in the body, and engaged in secular pursuits, I entertained a secret hope that there might be some mistake respecting the extreme misery of the damned, or that there might possibly be some way of escape not revealed; but now all these idle notions have fled like a dream when one awakes! I find Hell to be no fable but a dreadful reality! I find that the preachers, so far from exaggerating the misery of the lost, had no adequate conception of the wretchedness of a soul cast off from God forever, and doomed to dwell in everlasting burnings! Oh horrible! Horrible! I am undone, forever undone! I have passed beyond the reach of mercy!

For the sake of momentary enjoyments, and worthless riches and honors I have bartered away my soul. Accursed folly! What benefit can I now derive from those earthly pleasures and possessions? They only serve as fuel to the flames which consume me. O for one drop of water to cool my tongue! But for this I beg in vain. The time for prayer and for mercy has gone by and my soul is lost, lost, lost! And through eternity I must expect no deliverance, no relief, nor even the slightest mitigation of my misery! Woe, woe, woe is me! It would have been infinitely better for me never to have been born!

If I had not enjoyed the offers of the gospel, my anguish would not be so excruciating. But this it is which wrings my heart with unspeakable anguish that I might have escaped all this misery! Had it not been for my own sin and folly, I might before now have been in Heaven. Others who heard the same sermons, and belonged to the same family, are now in eternal glory while I am tormented in this flame! Oh, that I could cease to be; but to fly from existence is impossible.

Here I am surrounded by wretches as miserable as myself, but their company rather aggravates than mitigates, my soul's anguish. I am reproached and cursed by all who were ever led by my counsel or by example into the ways of iniquity. They dreadfully scowl upon me.

And the fiends of the pit, who were my seducers, now combine to taunt me with my folly. They never had the offers of mercy. The merits of a dying Savior were never offered to them. They seem to entertain a malignant pleasure if pleasure it can be called in witnessing my extreme misery. O wretch that I am where can I flee? Is there no possible escape from this prison of despair? Can no one ever pass the gulf which separates this dismal abode from the regions of the blessed? None! None!

May I hope that the passing of time will lessen the horrors and anguish of my wretched soul? Will my heart, so susceptible of the emotions of bitter anguish, by degrees become less sensible to these piercing pains, and be more able to bear up under this overwhelming weight of misery? This question can only be solved by experience: let me ask someone who has been suffering for thousands of years. Here comes Cain the first murderer, who is known still by having upon him the stain of a brother's blood. Suppose I speak to him: 'Tell me, fellow prisoner, who has long endured the pains of this infernal prison, whether by long continuance, these miseries become more tolerable?' But why do I ask? the wretched fratricide is evidently writhing in keenest anguish. He is too miserable to speak, and too full of malignity to gratify anyone. His guilty stain the bloodspot has not been burnt out by the fiercest fires of Hell. No! see, he defies the Almighty. He blasphemes the God of heaven. He asks for no mitigation of his punishment now. His malignant, fiery spirit feeds on despair, and challenges his Avenger to do his worst.

Oh, then, I see there is a progression in wickedness even in Hell. This is the most appalling prospect of all an endless progression in sin, and consequently an increase, instead of a diminution of misery, through the endless ages of eternity!

[Archibald Alexander]

 ✞  ✞   ✞ 

Romans 5:9 ... Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 ... For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ❤

Bunyan Quotes 2

The Lord uses his flail of tribulation to separate the chaff from the wheat.

Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight of the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with, who has the possession of Him to all eternity!

Christian, let God's distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent! Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved.

You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.

The reason why the Christians in this day are at such a loss as to some things is that they are contented with what comes from man's mouth, without searching and kneeling before God to know of Him the truth of things.

If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me. If my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me.

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.

No man, without trials and temptations can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.

What God says is best is best though all the men in the world are against it.

The difference between true and false repentance lies in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his evil heart; but the other, as Eve, cries out against the serpent, or something else.

It is sad to see how the most of men neglect their precious souls, turning their backs upon the glorious gospel, and little minding a crucified Jesus when, in the meanwhile, their bodies are well provided for, their estates much regarded, and the things of this present life are highly prized. This is as if the darling was of less value than a clod of earth; an immortal soul was of less value, than a perishing body; a precious Savior was of less value, than unsatisfying creatures.

Grace can pardon our ungodliness and justify us with Christ's righteousness.

Grace can put the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us. Grace can help us, when we are down. Grace can heal us, when we are wounded. Grace can multiply pardons, for our multiple transgressions.

It is possible to learn all about the mysteries of the Bible and never be affected by it in one's soul. Great knowledge is not saving grace.

I saw that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday and today and forever.

[John Bynyan]

 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞

Down to the River and Pray

“As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good old way, and who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way...” 

Acts 16:13 ... And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. ❤

But For Grace...

Let none conclude that they have no grace, because they have many imperfections in their obedience. Your grace may be very weak and imperfect, and yet you may be truly born again, and be a genuine son of God, and heir of Heaven.

[Ezekiel Hopkins]

Ephesians 2:8-9 ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 ... For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; ❤

Owen Quotes 4

Christ is our best friend our only true friend. Oh, that with all my heart, I may be weary of everything else but converse and communion with Him.

The duties which God requires of us, are not in proportion to the strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportionate to the resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in ourselves, to accomplish the least of God's tasks. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a single duty in our own strength we will discover the secret of its accomplishment: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) This is the law of grace.

Men think all things would be better done if they might be done according to their mind. "Should it be according to your mind?" (Job 34:33)

The beauty of the person of Christ, as represented in the Scripture, consists in things invisible unto the eyes of flesh. They are such as no hand of man can write, or tongue explain. It is the eye of faith alone, which can see this King in His beauty. What else can contemplate on the uncreated glories of Christ's divine nature?

When the Holy Spirit saves people, He puts into their minds, wills and hearts a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lie in this.

When sin lets us alone, we may let sin alone. But sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet. As sin's waters are for the most part deep when they are still so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.

Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin to trace this serpent in all its turnings and windings to be able to say, at its most secret actings: "This is your old way and course I am aware of your evil devices!"

If we do not abide in prayer we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled in any sin." When this is true in our lives a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.

He who would mortify any disquieting lust let him take care to be equally diligent in all parts of obedience, and know that every lust, every omission of duty, is burdensome to God though only one is burdensome to him. 

The pretended desires of many to behold the glory of Christ in Heaven, who have no view of it by faith while they are here in this world are nothing but self-deceiving imaginations. No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter who does not in some measure behold it here by faith.

Because God is an infinitely glorious, good, wise, holy, powerful, righteous, self-subsisting, self-sufficient, and all-sufficient being; the fountain and author of all being and good; the first cause, the last end, and the sovereign Lord of all therefore, he is to be worshiped. Therefore, we are to admire, adore, and love Him to praise, to trust and to fear Him!

No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times at His throne of grace.

The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the father. The greatest unkindness you can do to Him is not to believe that He loves you.

Labor to grow better under all your afflictions lest your afflictions grow worse and God mingles them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.

Before the work of grace, the heart is 'stony.' It can do no more than a stone can do to please God.

Temptations and trials put nothing into a man but only draw out what was in him before.

We are only servants and disciples of Christ when we do what is commanded us, and because it is commanded us.

What then is holiness? Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and living out of the gospel in our souls and lives!

In this would I live and upon this would I dwell in my thoughts and affections: to the withering and consumption of all the painted beauties of this world, to the crucifying all things here below until they become to me a dead and deformed thing, no way suitable for affectionate embraces.

Rivers, the nearer they come to the ocean where they tend the more, they increase their waters and speed their streams. In the same way, will grace flow more fully and freely in its near approaches to the ocean of glory!

There is no true gospel fruit without faith and repentance.

 [John Owen]

 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞

"Think On These Things"

There are certain habits of life, which are far reaching in their influence. The habit of cheerfulness, for instance, is said to be of great worth to a person. The habit of being always an encourager, never a discourager, gives incalculable value to one's personality and influence. A discourager is a misanthrope. He makes life harder for every other life he touches; and an encourager is a constant inspiration to others and makes life easier for everyone.

There is another habit of life, which if it were to become universal would change many things namely, the habit of always seeing the good in people, in conditions, in circumstances, and in experiences. Paul suggests it, when he says in a remarkable passage, "If there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) The emphasis seems to be on 'any' if there is any virtue, even the least, in another, if there is in a life which seems almost wholly bad, even the smallest thing that is good we are to find that and to think upon that mere speck of beauty, rather than on the much that is evil and unbeautiful. If there is in a person, anything praiseworthy, any smallest quality or act that is worthy of praise, of which we can speak with even the faintest approval and commendation, we should give thought to that, and voice our appreciation, rather than think and speak of the many things in the person that are not good or praiseworthy.

It is easy to think of reasons why this is the Christian way. It is Christ's way with us. If there is anything good, even the faintest spark of virtue or hope in a life Christ sees it. He is looking for good and hopeful things. Some people see only the faults and flaws in the lives of others they are looking for these things' blemishes, defects, imperfections. They are never trying to find anything beautiful, and they find what they seek. Our Master, however, is looking for things that are praiseworthy good beginnings of better things.

Someone asked the curator of an academy of fine arts, regarding the pictures of a certain artist: "What do you consider the defects in his work?" The answer was, "We do not look for defects here but for excellences." It is thus that our Master does in our lives he does not look for the imperfections, of which there always are many but for things that are worthy of commendation. If there is any virtue he finds it, takes note of it, nourishes it, and woos it out. If Christ looked upon us as we too often look upon others seeing the flaws, the shortcomings, the inconsistencies, the failures and judged us by these, not many of us ever would grow into beauty. But where there is even a spark of good, he finds it and cultivates it into his best possibilities.

We shall never become of much use in the world until we learn this lesson of always finding and encouraging the best. We shall never lift up anyone to a higher, better life until we have found in him something to approve and commend. There are some men and women who wish to help others, to be of use to them but work after a wrong method. They think they must eliminate the faults and defects which they find and so they watch for things they cannot approve. They have keen eyes for specks and blemishes none are too small for them to see but they never see the beautiful things in another. The Master refers to such people, in his teaching about motes and beams. He would have us look for the good, not the evil, in others.

[J. C. Ryle]

Philippians 4:8 ... Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ❤

Grace by Faith...

 Salvation is a gift, but we did not earn it.  The Lord paid the price for YOU.

Isaiah 53:5 ... But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Ephesians 2:8 ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ❤

Bunyan Quotes

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 in His Word. 

Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that reared upon Samson. But if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them. 

The truths that I know best I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well—until it is burned into my heart by prayer. 

Let death come when it will it can do the Christian no harm, for it will be but a passage out of a prison and into a palace; out of a sea of troubles and into a haven of rest; out of a crowd of enemies and into an innumerable company of true, loving, and faithful friends; out of shame, reproach, and contempt and into exceeding great and eternal glory!

There has not been one tear dropped from your tender eye against your lusts, the love of this world, or for more communion with Jesus Christ but as it is now in the bottle of God.

In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God.

An idle man's brain is the devil's workshop!

Talkative represents the man or woman who delights in talking about divine things but has only theoretical knowledge of such things. No actual personal heart experience correlates to the matters they love to discuss so eloquently. They are often highly esteemed by others but those closest to them would quickly betray a life out of sync with their words. The mask fashioned by fluency with all divine subjects hides their real life.

Prayer will make a man cease from sin or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. 

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Those who lack the beginning have neither middle nor end.

In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

The truths that I know best, I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well until it is burned into my heart by prayer.

The best prayer I ever prayed had enough sin to damn the whole world! 

Whatever contradicts the Word of God should be instantly resisted as diabolical.

[John Bunyan]

 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞ 🕊 ✞

Not What I Once Used to Be!!

The regenerate man is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things which please God, to avoid the things which God hates. His aim and desire is to love God with heart and soul, and mind and strength; and to love his neighbor as himself. His wish is to be continually looking to Christ as his Example as well as his Savior; and to manifest himself as Christ's friend, by obeying whatever He commands.

No doubt he is not perfect. None will tell you that sooner than himself. He groans under the burden of indwelling corruption cleaving to him. He finds an evil principle within him constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. Yet, in spite of all shortcomings, the average bent and bias of his ways, is holy; of his doings, is holy; of his tastes, is holy; and of his habits, is holy.

In spite of all his swerving and turning aside, like a ship going against a contrary wind, the general course of his life is in one direction: toward God and for God. He will generally be able to say, with old John Newton, "I am not what I ought to be.  I am not what I want to be.  I am not what I hope to be in the eternal world.  But still, I am not what I once used to be!

[J. C. Ryle]

1 Corinthians 15:10 ...  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

America in Need!!

 Pray for America!!

2 Chronicles 7:14 ... If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ❤