There's No Cost of Being a Christian in America!

I went to a church not along ago - they got thirty acres. So, what are their plans with it? They want their own football field and tennis courts. Dear God, do we go to church to learn to play tennis? God help the preachers! We have such an accommodating Christianity today. The best title of the professing church of God today, in my judgment, is "Unbelieving Believers." 

There's cancer in the church tonight! At this grim hour, the world sleeps in the darkness - and the Church sleeps in the light. You'll never get me to believe that the church today believes in Hell. We're a million, billion miles away from New Testament Christianity! I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again! Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need. Is the world crucified to you - or does it fascinate you? The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory. 

The book of Acts shows us the church before it became fat and short of breath by prosperity! Who or what takes priority over God in our lives? Where, oh, where are the eternity-conscious believers? Where are the souls white-hot for God because they fear His holy name and presence and so live with eternity's values in view? There's no cost of being a Christian in America! I'd rather have ten people who want God than 10,000 people who want to play church! 

[Leonard Ravenhill]

2 Timothy 4:3 ...  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

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

Remember What He Had.

If you want to be like Jesus ... 

 Remember he had a wilderness, a Gethsemane, and a Judas! 

 [Leonard Ravenhill]

John 16:33 ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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

No Cost of Being a Christian in America!!

I went to a church not along ago; they got thirty acres. So, what are their plans with it? They want their own football field and tennis courts. Dear God, do we go to church to learn to play tennis? God help the preachers!

We have such an accommodating Christianity today. The best title of the professing church of God today, in my judgment, is "Unbelieving Believers." There's cancer in the church tonight! At this grim hour, the world sleeps in the darkness and the Church sleeps in the light. You'll never get me to believe that the church today believes in Hell. We're a million, billion miles away from New Testament Christianity!  I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again!

Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need. Is the world crucified to you or does it fascinate you? The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory. The book of Acts shows us the church before it became fat and short of breath by prosperity! Who or what takes priority over God in our lives? Where, oh, where are the eternity-conscious believers? Where are the souls white-hot for God because they fear His holy name and presence and so live with eternity's values in view?

There's no cost of being a Christian in America! I'd rather have ten people who want God than 10,000 people who want to play church!

[Leonard Ravenhill] 

 ✞  ✞  ✞ 

2 Timothy 4:3 ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

John 5:39 ... Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

John 3:3 ... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ❤

Kept.

The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it. 

[ Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Peter 1:5 ... Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

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

No Cost of Being a Christian in America

I went to a church not along ago--they got thirty acres. So what are their plans with it? They want their own football field and tennis courts. Dear God, do we go to church to learn to play tennis? God help the preachers!

We have such an accommodating Christianity today.

The best title of the professing church of God today, in my judgment, is "Unbelieving Believers." There's cancer in the church tonight!

At this grim hour, the world sleeps in the darkness--and the Church sleeps in the light.

You'll never get me to believe that the church today believes in Hell.

We're a million, billion miles away from New Testament Christianity!

I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again!

Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need.

Is the world crucified to you or does it fascinate you?

The apostles had no gold, but lots of glory. We have lots of gold, but no glory.

The book of Acts shows us the church before it became fat and short of breath by prosperity!

Who or what takes priority over God in our lives?

Where, oh, where are the eternity-conscious believers?

Where are the souls white-hot for God because they fear His holy name and presence and so live with eternity's values in view?

There's no cost of being a Christian in America!

I'd rather have ten people who want God than 10,000 people who want to play church!

[Leonard Ravenhill]

✞✞✞

2 Timothy 4:3 ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Corinthians 4:17 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ❤

Prosperity, Personality and Popularity!

The early Church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions.

Today, the Church is married to prosperity, personality and popularity!

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Acts 20:29-30 ... For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.   Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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

2 Timothy 4:3 ... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;❤

We Need ...

There's one thing we need above everything else; it's something we don't talk about these days. We need a mighty avalanche of conviction of sin.

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Acts 17:30 ... And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Luke 13:5 ... I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

John 16:8 ... And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

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.❤

Evangelism

Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned?

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Luke 5:30-32 ... But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?   And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:35 ... And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Romans 15:19 ... Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Mark 16:15 ... And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ❤

The Picture of a Prophet

He has no price tags.
He is totally "otherworldly."
He is unquestionably controversial and unpardonably hostile.
He marches to another drummer!
He breathes the rarefied air of inspiration.
He is a seer who comes to lead the blind.
He lives in the heights of God and comes into the valley with a "thus saith the Lord."
He shares some of the foreknowledge of God and so is aware of impending judgment.
He lives in splendid isolation.
He is forthright and outright, but he claims no birthright.
His message is "repent, be reconciled to God or else!"
His prophecies are parried.
His truth brings torment, but his voice is never void.
He is the villain of today and the hero of tomorrow.
He is excommunicated while alive and exalted when dead!
He is dishonored with epithets when breathing and honored with epitaphs when dead.
He is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but few make the grade in his class.
He is friendless while living and famous when dead.
He is against the establishment in ministry; then he is established as a saint by posterity.
He eats daily the bread of affliction while he ministers, but he feeds the Bread of Life to those who listen.
He walks before men for days but has walked before God for years.
He is a scourge to the nation before he is scourged by the nation.
He announces, pronounces, and denounces!
He has a heart like a volcano and his words are as fire.
He talks to men about God.
He carries the lamp of truth amongst heretics while he is lampooned by men.
He faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.
He hides with God in the secret place, but he has nothing to hide in the marketplace.
He is naturally sensitive but supernaturally spiritual.
He has passion, purpose and pugnacity.
He is ordained of God but disdained by men.

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Corinthians 12:28 ... And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.❤

On Tolerance ~

The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil.
 

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ... If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.


1 John 2:15-17 ... Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.❤

Prayer Life

No man is greater than his prayer life.
The pastor who is not praying is playing;
The people who are not praying are straying.
The pulpit can be a shop window to display one’s talents;
The prayer closet allows no showing off.
[Leonard Ravenhill]

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.   But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  Matthew 6:5-6 ❤

Jesus is the Gospel

Paul never glamorized the gospel! It is not success, but sacrifice. It's not a glamour's gospel, but a bloody gospel, a gory gospel, and a sacrificial gospel! Five minutes inside eternity and we will wish that we had sacrificed more, wept more, bled more, grieved more, loved more, prayed more, given more. God's wounds cure, sin's kisses kill.

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ... Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ✞

Hungry Soul

A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Psalm 42:1-2 ... As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 143:6 ... I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

John 4:34 ... Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Matthew 5:6 ... Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Matthew 4:4 ... But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  ❤

Alive

Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live!

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Corinthians 15:22 … For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.


John 10:10 … The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:


Romans 6:11 … Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ♥

It is Finished

I don't believe that ever in history, anywhere, at any time, by anybody, were three words more pregnant with meaning than these three words given by one Man at the end of His life - “It is finished.”

[Leonard Ravenhill]

1 Peter 2:24 … Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 … For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Colossians 1:14 … In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 32:1 … Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ♥

Dead in Sin ... Alive in Christ

Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live!

[Leonard Ravenhill]

Ephesians 2:4-5 ... But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

John 10:10 ... The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1 Timothy 1:15 ... This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

John 3:16-17 ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 Corinthians 15:22 ... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ♥