Whose fault is it that Christian people generally have such scanty portions of the free riches of God?(Streams in the Desert)
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It is possible, for those who really are willing to reckon on the power of the Lord for keeping and victory, to lead a life in which His promises are taken as they stand and are found to be true.
It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it.
It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word.
It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing.
It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity -- through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power -- to make sin powerless over us. (Streams in the Desert)
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The saint is hilarious when he is crushed with difficulties because the thing is so ludicrously impossible to anyone but God. (My Utmost for His Highest)
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Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the "knowledge" of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
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The bravery of God in trusting us! You say - "But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing in me; I am not of any value." That is why He chose you. As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfilment of purposes which He does not discuss with you. (My Utmost for His Highest)
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He can do nothing with the man who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not out for our own cause at all, we are out for the cause of God, which can never be our cause. We do not know what God is after, but we have to maintain our relationship with Him whatever happens. We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right. The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to look after, and it is the one thing that is being continually assailed. (My Utmost for His Highest)
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An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money. (Matthew Henry)
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Passive faith but praises in the light, When sun doth shine.
Active faith will praise in darkest night-- Which faith is thine? (Streams in the Desert)
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Everything the Holy Ghost does is related to his reason for coming—to bring us home as a prepared bride. He acts only in keeping with that mission! Yes, he is our Guide, our Comforter, our Strength in time of need. But he uses every act of deliverance—every manifestation of himself in us—to make us more suitable as a bride. Neither is the Holy Ghost here to just give gifts to the world. No, his every gift has a purpose behind it. The Holy Spirit has only one message: everything he teaches leads to one, central truth. He may shine in us like a many-splendored jewel, but every ray of truth is meant to bring us to a single truth, and it is this: "You are not your own—you have been bought with a price. You have been chosen to be espoused to Christ. And the Spirit of God has been sent to reveal to you the truth that will set you free from all other loves. Truth will break every bondage to sin and deal with all unbelief. For you are not of this world; you are headed for a glorious meeting with your espoused and are being readied for his marriage supper. All things are now ready and I am preparing you! I want to present you spotless, with a passionate love in your heart for him." That's the work of the Holy Spirit—to manifest Jesus to the church, so that we will fall in love with him. And that love will keep us!(David Wilkerson Devotional)
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The joy of the saints in heaven is comprised in this: Jesus chose us, loved us, bought us, cleansed us, robed us, kept us, glorified us: we are here entirely through the Lord Jesus. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
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"With patience wait" (Rom. 8:25). Patience takes away worry. He said He would come, and His promise is equal to His presence. Patience takes away your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent? He knows your need better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all. Patience takes away self-works. The work He desires is that you "believe" (John 6:29), and when you believe, you may then know that all is well. Patience takes away all want. Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival.
Patience takes away all weakening. Instead of having the delaying time, a time of letting go, know that God is getting a larger supply ready and must get you ready too. Patience takes away all wobbling. "Make me stand upon my standing" (Daniel 8:18, margin). God's foundations are steady; and when His patience is within, we are steady while we wait. Patience gives worship. A praiseful patience sometimes "long-suffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:11) is the best part of it all. "Let (all these phases of) patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4), while you wait, and you will find great enrichment. (C. H. P.)-
Show me a truly Holy Ghost-possessed believer and I'll show you one who puts the legions of hell to chase. (David Wilkerson Devotional)
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I believe "walking in the Spirit" can be defined in one sentence: Walking in the Spirit is simply allowing the Holy Spirit to do in us what God sent him to do. (David Wilkerson Devotional)
-
High spirits criticize and object, but lowly minds glean and receive benefit. A humble heart is a great help towards profitably hearing the gospel. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it.
It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word.
It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing.
It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity -- through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power -- to make sin powerless over us. (Streams in the Desert)
-
The saint is hilarious when he is crushed with difficulties because the thing is so ludicrously impossible to anyone but God. (My Utmost for His Highest)
-
Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the "knowledge" of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
-
The bravery of God in trusting us! You say - "But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing in me; I am not of any value." That is why He chose you. As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfilment of purposes which He does not discuss with you. (My Utmost for His Highest)
-
He can do nothing with the man who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not out for our own cause at all, we are out for the cause of God, which can never be our cause. We do not know what God is after, but we have to maintain our relationship with Him whatever happens. We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right. The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to look after, and it is the one thing that is being continually assailed. (My Utmost for His Highest)
-
An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money. (Matthew Henry)
-
Passive faith but praises in the light, When sun doth shine.
Active faith will praise in darkest night-- Which faith is thine? (Streams in the Desert)
-
Everything the Holy Ghost does is related to his reason for coming—to bring us home as a prepared bride. He acts only in keeping with that mission! Yes, he is our Guide, our Comforter, our Strength in time of need. But he uses every act of deliverance—every manifestation of himself in us—to make us more suitable as a bride. Neither is the Holy Ghost here to just give gifts to the world. No, his every gift has a purpose behind it. The Holy Spirit has only one message: everything he teaches leads to one, central truth. He may shine in us like a many-splendored jewel, but every ray of truth is meant to bring us to a single truth, and it is this: "You are not your own—you have been bought with a price. You have been chosen to be espoused to Christ. And the Spirit of God has been sent to reveal to you the truth that will set you free from all other loves. Truth will break every bondage to sin and deal with all unbelief. For you are not of this world; you are headed for a glorious meeting with your espoused and are being readied for his marriage supper. All things are now ready and I am preparing you! I want to present you spotless, with a passionate love in your heart for him." That's the work of the Holy Spirit—to manifest Jesus to the church, so that we will fall in love with him. And that love will keep us!(David Wilkerson Devotional)
-
The joy of the saints in heaven is comprised in this: Jesus chose us, loved us, bought us, cleansed us, robed us, kept us, glorified us: we are here entirely through the Lord Jesus. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
-
"With patience wait" (Rom. 8:25). Patience takes away worry. He said He would come, and His promise is equal to His presence. Patience takes away your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent? He knows your need better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all. Patience takes away self-works. The work He desires is that you "believe" (John 6:29), and when you believe, you may then know that all is well. Patience takes away all want. Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival.
Patience takes away all weakening. Instead of having the delaying time, a time of letting go, know that God is getting a larger supply ready and must get you ready too. Patience takes away all wobbling. "Make me stand upon my standing" (Daniel 8:18, margin). God's foundations are steady; and when His patience is within, we are steady while we wait. Patience gives worship. A praiseful patience sometimes "long-suffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:11) is the best part of it all. "Let (all these phases of) patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4), while you wait, and you will find great enrichment. (C. H. P.)-
Show me a truly Holy Ghost-possessed believer and I'll show you one who puts the legions of hell to chase. (David Wilkerson Devotional)
-
I believe "walking in the Spirit" can be defined in one sentence: Walking in the Spirit is simply allowing the Holy Spirit to do in us what God sent him to do. (David Wilkerson Devotional)
-
High spirits criticize and object, but lowly minds glean and receive benefit. A humble heart is a great help towards profitably hearing the gospel. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotional)
