(Wiersbe) It is unfortunte that the saints are at war with each other, leader against leader, church against church fellowship against fellowship. The world watches and says, " Behold, how they hate each other !" Why are we at war against each other? We belong to the same family, we trust the same Savior, we are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit--- and yet we fight one another. The war in the heart is helping cause the war in the church .Often we veil our religious quarrels under the disguise of " spirituality"
(Wiersbe) The essence of sin is selfishness
(Wiersbe) When our praying is wrong, our whole Christian life is wrong
(Wiersbe) Selfish living and selfish praying always lead to war. If there is war on the inside, there will ultimately be war on the outside
(Wiersbe) Sometimes we use prayer as a cloak to hide our true desires. " But I prayed about it " can be one of the biggest excuses a Christian can use
(Wiersbe) The root cause of every war, internal and external, is rebellion against God, How does a believer declare war against God? By being friendly with God's enemies
(Wiersbe) Satan is the author of all " do it yourself" spiritual enterprises. He enjoys inflating the ego and encouraging the believer to do it his own way
(Wiersbe) One of the problems in our churches today is that we have too many celebrities and not enough servants. Christian workers are promoted so much that there is little place for God's glory
(Wiersbe) Unconditional surrender is the only way to complete victory
(Wiersbe) Dr. A W Tozer has a profound essay in one of his books entitled, " Nearness is likeness". The more we are like God, the nearer we are to God
(Wiersbe) Put the government of your life on His shoulders, and let Him become the Prince of Peace in your life ( Is 9:6)
(Wiersbe) When a believer is out of the will of God, he becomes a troublemaker and not a peacemaker
(Wiersbe) Too many believers look on the will of God as bitter medicine they must take instead of seeing it as the gracious evidence of the love of God. The safest place in the world is right where God wants you. The will of God comes from the heart of God
(Wiersbe) Apart from the will of God, life is a mystery. Life is not uncertain to God, but it is uncertain to us. To us, life seems long by the way we measure it in years;but in comparison to eternity, life is but a vapor. We count our years at each birthday; but God tells us to number our days. Since life is so brief,we cannot afford merely to " spend our lives"; and we certainly do not want to " waste our lives". We must invest our lives in those things that are eternal
(Wiersbe) Man cannot control future events. He has neither the wisdom to see the future nor the power to control the future
(Wiersbe) To treat the Word of God lightly is to invite the chastening of God in our lives
(Wiersbe) Many people have the mistaken idea that the will of God is a formula for misery. Just the opposite is true! It is disobeying the Lord's will that will lead to misery
(Wiersbe) " If the Lord will" is not just a statement on a believer's lips; it is the constant attitude of the heart
(Wiersbe) Paul did not consider the will of God as a chain that shackled him;rather it was a key that opened the doors and set him free
(Wiersbe) God's will is specifically designed for each of us. No two lives are planned according to the same pattern. The will of God is " tailor-made" for each of us, The will of God is a living relationship between God and each believer
(Wiersbe) When God cannot rule, He overrules
(Wiersbe) The will of God is not difficult to discover. If we are willing to obey, He is willing to reveal it ( Joh 7:17) God does not reveal His will to the curious or the the careless, but to those who are ready and willing to obey Him
(Wiersbe) Everything in our lives is important to God, and He has a plan for each detail
( Wiersbe) People ask, " How do I determine God's will for my life?" You start with the thing you ought to do, and you do that. Then God opens the way for the next step. The more we obey, the easier it is to discover what God wants us to do
(Wiersbe) The secret of a happy life is to delight in duty. When duty becomes delight, then burdens become blessings
(Wiersbe) His outline of three responses to God's will: (1) Ignoring God's will ( James 4:13,14,16);(2) disobeying God's will( James 4:17); (3) obeying God's will ( James 4:15)
(Dave Branon) His outline of James 4:7-10: Give in! Get close! Clean up! Get down!
(Our Daily Bread) The most powerful testimony is a godly life
(James Stalker) Excessive aversion to controversy may be an indication that a church has no keen sense of possessing truth which is of great worth-- and that it has lost appreciation for the infinite difference in value between truth and error
(Wiersbe) Tells the story of a quaint old country preacher who preached a three-point sermon on Ps 40:2-3: God brought him up, God stood him up, and God tuned him up
(Wiersbe) When the heart delights in God's law, the will has no problem obeying
(Wiersbe) Worship is not an escape from life but the opportunity to honor God and be equipped to face life and live for His glory
(Mart De Haan) At a moment in time, the eternal God closed His eyes and stopped breathing. At that moment, God was dead--not just in the perception of others, but in real time and in an actual place. The Second Person of the Three-in- One God became a real man to die a real death for us-- a mystery that is beyond human comprehension
(Mart De Haan) Those who allow the Spirit of Christ to be seen in them are an antidote to the opinion that " God is dead"
( J. Oswald Sanders) Ultimately, loneliness stems from mankind's alientation from God, so no remedy that does not take this factor into account will afford more than superficial and temporary relief
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
060311
(Ray Stedman) The passage in James 4 is not saying we should not make plans or set goals for our lives. Of course we should. But we should never become arrogant or presumptuous. We should never think we own our own lives and that we control our destinies. God is the ultimate authority over our lives- not us. The more we respect his sovereignty over our lives, the better equipped we will be to adjust to the unforeseen circumstances that come our way. Time is in God's hands, not ours
(Charles Stanley) When God puts a burden on our hearts for someone, we dare not shove the inclination to the back of our minds
(Charles Stanley) As much as you may desire real intimacy with your Savior, remember he longs for it even more
(Stanley) On the importance of a " quiet time": The more you honor that appointment with God, the greater your desire will be to protect it--and the greater your enrichment. Are you ready for relationship with Jesus that knows no boundaries? Then open your time, your life, your heart-- and expect the Lord's involvement"
(A. Rogers) The greatest problem we face is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer
(Rogers) Have you ever thought of the devil fleeing from you? Most of us want to settle for s standoff. The devil cares nothing for your resolutions or your intentions, but he fears the blood of Jesus Christ. When Satan gets on your case, bring the blolod of Jesus and the Word of God against him, and he WILL flee
(Wiersbe) How tragic it is when local churches get their values confused and cater to the rich while they ignore, or even reject, the poor.If fellowship in a church depends on such external things as clothing and economic status, then the church is out of the will of God
(Wiersbe) Christians need to have discernment but they must not to act like God in passing judgment. We never have all the facts in a case, and we certainly never know the motives that are at work in peoples hearts. To speak evil of a person and to judge a person in the basis of partial evidence and ( probably) unkind motives is to sin against them and against God
(Charles Stanley) When God puts a burden on our hearts for someone, we dare not shove the inclination to the back of our minds
(Charles Stanley) As much as you may desire real intimacy with your Savior, remember he longs for it even more
(Stanley) On the importance of a " quiet time": The more you honor that appointment with God, the greater your desire will be to protect it--and the greater your enrichment. Are you ready for relationship with Jesus that knows no boundaries? Then open your time, your life, your heart-- and expect the Lord's involvement"
(A. Rogers) The greatest problem we face is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer
(Rogers) Have you ever thought of the devil fleeing from you? Most of us want to settle for s standoff. The devil cares nothing for your resolutions or your intentions, but he fears the blood of Jesus Christ. When Satan gets on your case, bring the blolod of Jesus and the Word of God against him, and he WILL flee
(Wiersbe) How tragic it is when local churches get their values confused and cater to the rich while they ignore, or even reject, the poor.If fellowship in a church depends on such external things as clothing and economic status, then the church is out of the will of God
(Wiersbe) Christians need to have discernment but they must not to act like God in passing judgment. We never have all the facts in a case, and we certainly never know the motives that are at work in peoples hearts. To speak evil of a person and to judge a person in the basis of partial evidence and ( probably) unkind motives is to sin against them and against God
Thursday, June 2, 2011
060211
(James 4:12/ Phillips translation) How can you be so silly as to imagine that you are your neighbor's judge?
( Thomas a Kempis) Man proposes, but God disposes
(James 4:4/ The Living Bible) I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy the evil pleasures of the unsaved world, you cannot also be a friend of God
(James 4:14/ The Living Bible) How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog-now you see it, soon it is gone
( Ray Stedman) These wars and fights among Christian brothers and sisters are the result of prayerlessness, which is itself a demonstration of faithlessness. When faith fails, prayer fails, then fighting, arguments, hatred, and distrust break out
(Ray Stedman) People who criticize others have put themselves above the Word of God and have assumed God's role as judge. Instead of letting the Word of God judge themselves, they become the judge of others
( Thomas a Kempis) Man proposes, but God disposes
(James 4:4/ The Living Bible) I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy the evil pleasures of the unsaved world, you cannot also be a friend of God
(James 4:14/ The Living Bible) How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog-now you see it, soon it is gone
( Ray Stedman) These wars and fights among Christian brothers and sisters are the result of prayerlessness, which is itself a demonstration of faithlessness. When faith fails, prayer fails, then fighting, arguments, hatred, and distrust break out
(Ray Stedman) People who criticize others have put themselves above the Word of God and have assumed God's role as judge. Instead of letting the Word of God judge themselves, they become the judge of others
060211
(Wiersbe) Commenting on the phrase " make you perfect" in Heb 13:21:" This phrase is the translation of one Greek word " kataridzo" . The doctor knew it because it means to set a broken bone. To fisherman it meant to mend a net. To sailors it meant to outfit a ship for voyage. To soldiers it meant to equip and arm for battle
(Wiersbe) Build your life on the things of heaven that will never shake
(Our Daily Bread) God's presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us
(Riddle) What gets wetter the more it dries? --A towel
(Riddle) What grows larger the more you take away? -- a hole
(James 4:6/ The Message) God goes against the willful proud;God gives grace to the willing humble
(James 4:10/ The Message) Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet
(James 4:12/ The Message) God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?
(James 4:14/ The Message) You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing
(Wiersbe) Build your life on the things of heaven that will never shake
(Our Daily Bread) God's presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us
(Riddle) What gets wetter the more it dries? --A towel
(Riddle) What grows larger the more you take away? -- a hole
(James 4:6/ The Message) God goes against the willful proud;God gives grace to the willing humble
(James 4:10/ The Message) Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet
(James 4:12/ The Message) God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?
(James 4:14/ The Message) You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing
060211
(Steven Davey) Prejudice is not a matter of color or class-it is a matter of character
(Wiersbe) quotes an east Eurepean believer," It is always harder to be a good Christian when you ae comfortable"
(Wiersbe) Contented Christians are people with priorities, and material things are not high on their priority lists
(Wiersbe) Never build your life on any servant of God. Church leaders come and go. Build your life on Jesus Christ. He never changes
(Wiersbe) Every Christian should be on good speaking terms with his pastor
(Wiersbe) As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ died for the sheep( John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He lives for the sheep in heaven today, working on their behalf. As the Chief Shepherd, He will come again for the sheep on His return ( I Peter 5:4)
(Wiersbe) quotes an east Eurepean believer," It is always harder to be a good Christian when you ae comfortable"
(Wiersbe) Contented Christians are people with priorities, and material things are not high on their priority lists
(Wiersbe) Never build your life on any servant of God. Church leaders come and go. Build your life on Jesus Christ. He never changes
(Wiersbe) Every Christian should be on good speaking terms with his pastor
(Wiersbe) As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ died for the sheep( John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He lives for the sheep in heaven today, working on their behalf. As the Chief Shepherd, He will come again for the sheep on His return ( I Peter 5:4)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
060111
(Harold Lindsell) A growing number of people who claim to be evangelical have openly affirmed an inerrancy or infallibility limited to matters of faith and practice. The responses to my book The Battle for the Bible indicate that my basic claim was conservative. There are more evidences of departure from inerrancy that I was aware of.
(Harold Lindsell) Beware of judgment on the heart of another for which there is no answer. God and God alone at last must judge the intentions of the heart
(Harold Lindsell) If to stand for the truth of the Scripture is divisive, then I am divisive. So be it. If a Christian must choose between theological compromise, which will hurt both the faith and believers who are subverted by error, or silence, inaction and consent to error, then the answer is plain enough. Peace at the expense of theological purity means a denial of what is foundational to the existence of the body. If the issue is of signal importance, there is no choice. One must defend the purity of the body even though the peace of the body will be disturbed as a consequence
(Our Daily Bread) Judas-- so close and yet so far away!
(Flannery O'Connor) The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it
(Daniel Moynihan) Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts
(A. Rogers) Understand that the grace that is refused becomes the wrath that is given to those who say no to God's Son. To refuse to come to Jesus Christ is a clinched fist in the face of Almight God
( A. Rogers) The devil would just as soon you go to hell from the pew as he would from the gutter
(Wiersbe) Nobody knows that crisis hour ( if there is one) when the Spirit stops dealing with the lost sinner
(Wiersbe) The Pharisees had documented 613 commandments in the Law, 248 positive and 365 negative
(Joe Stowell) In essence, Jesus is telling us in Mt. 22:37-40 that the way God knows we love Him is by how we treat people
(Heb 13:4/The Message) Guard sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex
(Wiersbe) In the Bible, there is no division between doctrine and duty, revelation and responsibility. The two go together
(Wiersbe) A dedicated Christian home is the nearest thing to heaven on earth
(Harold Lindsell) Beware of judgment on the heart of another for which there is no answer. God and God alone at last must judge the intentions of the heart
(Harold Lindsell) If to stand for the truth of the Scripture is divisive, then I am divisive. So be it. If a Christian must choose between theological compromise, which will hurt both the faith and believers who are subverted by error, or silence, inaction and consent to error, then the answer is plain enough. Peace at the expense of theological purity means a denial of what is foundational to the existence of the body. If the issue is of signal importance, there is no choice. One must defend the purity of the body even though the peace of the body will be disturbed as a consequence
(Our Daily Bread) Judas-- so close and yet so far away!
(Flannery O'Connor) The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it
(Daniel Moynihan) Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts
(A. Rogers) Understand that the grace that is refused becomes the wrath that is given to those who say no to God's Son. To refuse to come to Jesus Christ is a clinched fist in the face of Almight God
( A. Rogers) The devil would just as soon you go to hell from the pew as he would from the gutter
(Wiersbe) Nobody knows that crisis hour ( if there is one) when the Spirit stops dealing with the lost sinner
(Wiersbe) The Pharisees had documented 613 commandments in the Law, 248 positive and 365 negative
(Joe Stowell) In essence, Jesus is telling us in Mt. 22:37-40 that the way God knows we love Him is by how we treat people
(Heb 13:4/The Message) Guard sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex
(Wiersbe) In the Bible, there is no division between doctrine and duty, revelation and responsibility. The two go together
(Wiersbe) A dedicated Christian home is the nearest thing to heaven on earth
060111
(Wiersbe) No Christian believer has to trust the world for anything, because we have received in Christ every blessing we need ( Eph 1:3;2 Pet 1:1-4) We are in the world physically, but not of the world spiritually
(Wiersbe) Solomon's compromise wasn't a sudden thing, for he gradually descended into idolatry. His sensual love for the many wives was more compelling than his separated love for the Lord, the God of Israel. Without a close walk with the Lord, his heart was empty, so he pursued pleasure, went through a period of cynicism and despair, and even questioned whether his life was worth living. At least thirty-eight times in Eccleiastes, Solomon wrote, "Vanity of vanities". First he was a friendly with the world( James 4:4), then spotted by the world((James 1:27), and then came to love the world( 1 John 2:15-17) and be conformed to the world( Rom 12:2)
(Wiersbe) Solomon's compromise wasn't a sudden thing, for he gradually descended into idolatry. His sensual love for the many wives was more compelling than his separated love for the Lord, the God of Israel. Without a close walk with the Lord, his heart was empty, so he pursued pleasure, went through a period of cynicism and despair, and even questioned whether his life was worth living. At least thirty-eight times in Eccleiastes, Solomon wrote, "Vanity of vanities". First he was a friendly with the world( James 4:4), then spotted by the world((James 1:27), and then came to love the world( 1 John 2:15-17) and be conformed to the world( Rom 12:2)
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