Favorite Pastor Quotes 6

Favorite Pastor Quotes 6

Rich to all eternity!

(Charles Spurgeon)

No matter what your wealth, if you have not Christ--you are miserably poor. "The rich man also died and was buried. In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him: Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:22-24
But with Christ--you are rich to all eternity! "We have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!" 1 Peter 1:4
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Quicken our poor, cold, lifeless souls! 
(James Smith, "The Evening Sacrifice; Or, A Help to Devotion")

"My soul cleaves unto the dust--quicken me according to Your Word!" Psalm 119:25 

What powerful attractions the present world has! How prone we are . . .
  to sink down to its level,
  to become attached to its customs,
  and to cleave to its vanities! 
Yet, at the best, it is but dust. There is nothing in the world to satisfy or suit an immortal mind. 

Jesus died for us--to deliver us from this present evil world. The Holy Spirit urges us to rise above it, and offers us His divine and all-sufficient aid. He will not force, but only attract or draw. Alas! that we should . . . 
  slight His intimations,
  disregard His exhortations,
  and grieve His loving heart!

We are not of the world--and yet how worldly we are! We are born from above--but yet how earthly we remain! Our souls go out after things that are carnal, drossy, dusty, contemptible--to the neglect of things that are spiritual, pure, holy, and invaluable. 

Heavenly Father, we confess our folly, we deplore our ingratitude, we condemn our conduct. We feel weak and feeble when we attempt to burst our bonds, and mount upwards to Your throne. O quicken, quicken us! By the power of Your Holy Spirit, and by bringing home Your inspired Word--quicken our poor, cold, lifeless souls! 
Have You not promised to be as the dew unto Your people, coming down graciously, gradually, and gently upon them--in order to revive their graces, quicken their devotions, and cause them to grow up into Christ? O come down upon our dry and thirsty souls as the dew--or fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.

Quicken us--and so will we mount up to Your throne, and do Your righteous will. Quicken us--and so Jesus will be precious to us, and the work of the Lord will be pleasant to us.
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Consider Your Ways!

Francis Bourdillon
 

"Now therefore, thus says the LORD Almighty: Consider your ways!" Haggai 1:5

This was God's message to the people of Jerusalem; but it is His word to us, as well as to them. He would have all to consider their ways. People are too apt to live without thought. They fall into habits almost insensibly. One person does what he sees another do; there are many who follow custom blindly, and numbers have no other rule than their own pleasure.

God would not have us live so. He would have us think — and think seriously. He says to us, "Consider your ways" — set your heart on your ways, think about them, examine them well.

Now this is a thing, not merely to hear about or to read about — but to do. Each person is to do it for himself, to consider his own ways; and a very serious and important thing it is. For every way has an end; there is no way that does not lead somewhere. In order to help us to consider our ways, here are some questions which we may ask ourselves about them:

1. Has conscience anything to say against our way? Do we know, or even suspect, that our way is not a right way? How is our time passed? What are we doing on our week-days? How are we spending our Sundays? Of what kind are our pursuits, our pleasures, our companions? Has conscience anything to say against us on these points, and does it sometimes speak?

2. Are our ways according to the Bible? It is very important to have a clear conscience, but conscience itself must be taught by the word of God. It is not enough that we should do what we think to be right — we must do what God says is right. Are our ways then according to the Bible? With many shortcomings, can we yet take that blessed book and say, "This is what I desire to follow; this is my rule, my guide, my pattern; this is how I wish and try to live"?

3. Another question we should ask ourselves is this: "What shall we think of our ways hereafter?" Whatever we may think of them now, are they such as we shall look back upon with comfort in time to come? Sickness and the approach of death give very different views of things — from life and health. What will our ways seem to us when eternity is near? What will our thoughts be when we look back upon our present time and the way in which we are spending it; upon the opportunities and means, the gifts and talents, which we now have, and which we are certainly using in some way or other? What shall we think of our present ways, when we come to consider them as past ways?

4. Another solemn question may be drawn directly from the Bible itself. We read there of two ways — the broad way, and the narrow way — the way of death, and the way of life. Our way is one or other of these. Which? This is a solemn question; and all the more so on this account, that many are in the broad way — and few in the narrow way. Men do not like to think this. But it is true, as true as the words of God's own truth can make it: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14). Which are we among — the many, or the few? Which is our way — the broad, or the narrow way? What will our end be — destruction or life?

5. Jesus said, "I am the way." Is He our way? It is not enough to be sincere and in earnest; we must go by that way which God has provided — or we shall certainly find that our way is not the way of eternal life. Jesus is the way — the only way; no man comes unto the Father but by Him — neither is there any other name by which we can be saved. When we are considering our ways, we must not leave out this point. We must make sure that our hopes are built on the right foundation, that we are looking to Christ alone, that our feet are on the rock. If Christ is not to us the way, the truth, and the life — then, whatever our ways may be in other points, they are certainly wrong, deeply fatally and eternally wrong!

6. Once more. We read of Enoch that he "walked with God," and the same is said of Noah — and that too in an ungodly age. Here is another thing to ask of ourselves about our ways. Do we walk with God? Are we in the habit of holding communion with Him in secret? And at all times, in private and in public — do we try to maintain a sense of His presence, to live near to Him, and to follow His holy will? The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?" Is that true of us? Have we the Spirit of God? Are we growing in grace? Are we making progress? As years advance — do our souls advance too?

Here then are six different points of inquiry about our ways:

  Are they against conscience?

  Are they according to the Bible?

  What shall we think of them hereafter?

  Are we in the broad way, or the narrow way?

  Is Christ our way?

  Do we daily walk with God?

It is God Himself who bids us consider our ways; "Now, therefore, thus says the Lord Almighty: Consider your ways!" It is a plain direct message from Him, as though the prophet had said, "Now therefore it is not I who speak to you, but the Lord Himself! He who knows all your doings, He whose eye is always upon you, He who is aware of every secret motive that influences you — He bids you stop and think. He Himself calls upon you to turn away your thoughts from trifles and from worldly things — and to fix them upon yourselves and your ways. This is the Lord's will, the Lord's command."

Why does God thus command us? That if our ways are wrong — we may amend them; that we may repent and turn; that we may seek and find mercy; that we may be safe and happy. "God is love." In His very warnings and exhortations, He is love. The people at Jerusalem did consider their ways. We read that they "obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord." And what followed? "Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message: I am with you, declares the Lord." Even so will the Lord receive, pardon, save, and bless all who consider their ways, and turn and seek Him by Christ Jesus.

"I am with you" — He said to the repentant people of Jerusalem. "I am with you" — He says to all who hear, believe, and obey. When God is with us — then our ways are happy indeed, happy as they never were before. Then we have a Father in Heaven; then we have a Savior; then we have a Friend in all trouble, and a helper in all difficulty. Then we have pardon and peace, a conscience clear, a mind at ease, and a good hope for eternity. This may be ours, freely and fully ours — if we will seek it in and through Christ Jesus; and the very first step is to consider our ways, as before God, asking the help of His Holy Spirit!

Favorite Pastor Quotes 5

Favorite Pastor Quotes 5

The Minimum Christian!

(C.H. Spurgeon, "Sword and the Trowel")

The minimum Christian! And who is he? The Christian who is going to heaven at the cheapest rate possible. The Christian who intends to get all of the world he can--and not meet the worldling's doom. The Christian who aims to have as little religion as he may--without lacking it altogether.

The minimum Christian goes to worship in the morning; and in the evening also--unless it rains, or is too warm, or too cold, or he is sleepy, or has the headache from eating too much at dinner. He listens most respectfully to the preacher, and joins in prayer and praise. He applies the truth very judiciously--sometimes to himself, oftener to his neighbors.

The minimum Christian is very friendly to all good works. He wishes them well, but it is not in his power to do much for them. The Sunday-school he looks upon as an admirable institution--especially for the neglected and ignorant. It is not convenient, however, for him to take a class--his business engagements are so pressing during the week that he needs the Sabbath as a day of rest; nor does he think himself qualified to act as a teacher. There are so many persons better prepared for this important duty--that he must beg to be excused. He is very friendly to home and foreign missions, and colportage, and gives his mite--but he is quite unable to aid in the management, for his own concerns are so excessively important. He thinks there are "too many appeals;" but he gives, if not enough to save his reputation, pretty near it--at all events he aims at it, and never overshoots the mark.

The minimum Christian is not clear on a number of points. The opera and dancing, the theater and card-playing, and large fashionable parties give him much trouble. He cannot see the harm in this, or that, or the other popular amusement. There is nothing in the Bible against it. He does not see why a Christian may not dance or go to the opera. He knows several excellent persons who do so--at least, so he says. Why should not he? He stands so close to the dividing-line between the people of God and the people of the world--that it is hard to say on which side of it he is actually to be found.

Ah, my brother, are you making this attempt? Beware, lest you find at last that in trying to get to Heaven with a little religion--you miss it altogether; lest without gaining the whole world--you lose your own soul. True godliness demands self-denial and cross-bearing--and if you have none of these, you are making a false profession!

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The cup of wrath!

(Andrew Bonar, "The Cup of Wrath!")

"In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of red wine mixed with spices! He pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs!" Psalm 75:8

There has been only One who has ever drunk this cup down to its very dregs!

Cain has been drinking it for 5,000 years and finds that his punishment greater than he can bear--but has not come to the dregs.

Judas had been drinking it for some 2000 years, often crying out with a groan that shakes Hell, "Oh that I had never been born! Oh that I had never seen or heard of the Lord Jesus Christ!" But he has not reached the dregs.

The fallen angels have not come near the dregs!

The only One who has taken, tasted, drunk, and wrung out the bitterest of the bitter dregs--has been the Judge Himself, the Lord Jesus!

You know how often, when on earth, He spoke of it. "Are you able to drink the cup that I shall drink of?" (Matthew 20:22). "The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11).

The universe saw Him with it at His lips. It was our cup of trembling--the cup in which the wrath due to His people was mixed. What wrath, what woe! A few drops made Him cry, "Now is my soul deeply troubled!" In the garden, the sight of it wrung out the strange, mysterious words, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death!" Though God-man, He staggered at what He saw, and went on trembling.

The next day, on Calvary, He drank it all! I suppose the three hours of darkness may have been the time when He was drinking it down the very dregs; for then arose from His broken heart, the wail which so appealed to the heart of the Father, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me!" As He drank the last drop, and cried out, "It is finished!" we may believe that the holy angels felt an inconceivable relief--and even the Father Himself! So tremendous was the wrath and curse!--the wrath and curse due to our sin!

Jesus drank that cup as the substitute for His innumerable people, who were given to Him by the Father; and thereby freed them from ever tasting even one drop of that fierce wrath, that "cup of red wine, mixed with spices," with its dregs--its unknown terrors!

"Death and the curse were in our cup,
 O Christ, 'twas full for Thee!
 But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
 'Tis empty now for me!"

"Once it was mine, that cup of wrath,
 And Jesus drank it dry!"

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Lord, smite this sin!

(Thomas Watson, "The Godly Man's Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil)

"Your Word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it." Psalm 119:140

Do we love the holiness of the Word? The Word is preached--to beat down sin, and advance holiness. Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many love the Preached Word only for its eloquence and notion. They come to a sermon as to a performance (Ezekiel 33:31,32) or as to a garden to pick flowers--but not to have their lusts subdued or their hearts purified. These are like a foolish woman who paints her face--but neglects her health!

Do we love the convictions of the Word? Do we love the Word when it comes home to our conscience and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? It is the minister's duty sometimes to reprove. He who can speak smooth words in the pulpit--but does not know how to reprove, is like a sword with a fine handle, but without an edge! "Rebuke them sharply!" (Titus 2:15). Dip the nail in oil--reprove inlove--but strike the nail home!

Now Christian, when the Word touches on your sin and says, "You are the man!"--do you love the reproof? Can you bless God that "the sword of the Spirit" has divided between you and your lusts? This is indeed a sign of grace, and shows that you are a lover of the Word.

A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the Word--but not the reproofs: "You hate the one who reproves--and despise him who tells the truth!" (Amos 5:10). "Their eyes flash with fire!" Like venomous creatures that at the least touch, spit poison! "When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him!" (Acts 7:54). When Stephen touched their sins--they were furious and could not endure it.

How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the Word?

When we desire to sit under a heart-searching ministry. Who cares for medicines that will not work? A godly man does not choose to sit under a ministry that will not work upon his conscience.

When we pray that the Word may meet with our sins. If there is any traitorous lust in our heart--we would have it found out, and executed! We do not want sin covered--but cured!

When we can open our heart to the sword of the Word and say, "Lord, smite this sin!"

When we are thankful for a reproof. "Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it." (Psalm 141:5). David was glad for a reproof.

Suppose a man were in the mouth of a lion, and another should shoot the lion and save the man--would he not be thankful? Just so, when we are in the mouth of sin, as of a lion, and the minister by a reproof shoots this sin to death--shall we not be thankful?

A gracious soul rejoices, when the sharp lance of the Word has pierced his abscess of sin! He wears a reproof like a jewel on his ear: "Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear." (Proverbs 25:12).

To conclude, it is convicting preaching which must do the soul good. As a nipping frost prepares for the sweet flowers of spring--so a nipping reproof prepares the soul for comfort!

Favorite Pastor Quotes 4

Favorite Pastor Quotes 4

Let us try and not attend to its gewgaws!

(Mary Winslow)

"They are not of the world any more than I am of the world." John 17:14

The world and its 'nothings' are often a sad snare to God's saints! Oh that by faith we may overcome it all, and keep close to Jesus! We are not of the world--let us try and not attend to its gewgaws! Keep a more steadfast, unwavering eye upon Christ. He has gone a little before us, and stands beckoning us to follow Him.

Live for eternity! Let go of your hold upon the world! Receive this exhortation from an aged pilgrim, who, as she nears the solemn scenes of eternity, and more realizes the inexpressible joys that await us there--is anxious that all the believers who are traveling the same road might have their hearts and minds more disentangled from earth and earthly things, and themselves unreservedly given to Christ. Let us aim in all things to follow Him who, despising this world's show, left us an example how we should walk. Have your lamp trimmed and brightly burning, for every day and every hour brings us nearer and nearer to our eternal home!

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." John 17:16

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Infinite wisdom directs every event! 
(John Dagg)

"The Lord does whatever pleases Him--in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:5-6It should fill us with joy, that God's infinite wisdom guides the affairs of the world! 

Many of its events are shrouded in darkness and mystery, and inextricable confusion sometimes seems to reign.

Often wickedness prevails, and God seems to have forgotten the creatures that He has made.

Our own path through life is dark and devious, and beset with difficulties and dangers.

How full of consolation is the doctrine, that infinite wisdom directs every event, brings order out of confusion, and light out of darkness--and, to those who love God, His infinite wisdom causes all things, whatever their present aspect and apparent tendency is, to work together for good!

"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28

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Death, to the believer!(Mary Winslow)

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23

Death, to the believer, is but passing out of a world of sorrow and of sin--and entering upon a world of indescribable glory!

If we lived more in anticipation of the happiness that waits us--earth would have less hold on our hearts' best affections.
 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ--set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above--not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2

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Ten thousand times more precious!

(William Dyer, "Christ's Famous Titles")

"To you who believe--He is precious!" 1 Peter 2:7

Christ is MOST precious! Oh, sirs! angels are precious, saints are precious, friends are precious, Heaven is precious--but Christ is ten thousand times more precious than these!

A believer had rather have Christ without Heaven--than Heaven without Christ! "Whom have I in Heaven but You? and there is none on earth that I desire besides You!" Psalm 73:25. Let a believer search Heaven and earth--and yet he will find nothing comparable to Christ. To be like to Him--is our happiness! To draw near to Him--is our holiness! You see, beloved, life is precious, freedom is precious, health is precious, peace is precious, food and clothing are precious, gold and silver are precious, kingdoms and crowns are precious. Indeed they are, in their places--but nothing is as precious as Jesus Christ!

Mark, sirs, what the apostle says, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!" Philippians 3:7-8.

The believer is the only blessed man, the only happy man, the only rich man. Revelation 21:7, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things." Oh what a glorious inheritance are they born to--who are new-born! All things are theirs--and they shall inherit all things! What can they desire, more than all? All that Christ has, is theirs!
His wisdom is theirs to teach them,
His love is theirs to pity them,
His Spirit is theirs to comfort them,
His righteousness is theirs to justify them,
His power is theirs to protect them, and
His glory is theirs to crown them!

Oh, sirs! Christ cannot but be most precious to a believer--because all his precious comforts come from Christ. The Lord Jesus is . . .
  fairer than the fairest,
  sweeter than the sweetest,
  nearer than the nearest,
  dearer than the dearest,
  richer than the richest, and
  better than the best!

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved--and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16 

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GOLGOTHA

By Newman Hall

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Mark 15:22

Jesus to Golgotha? The perfectly pure One—He who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners—He, brought to a spot regarded as the most polluted and defiled, where skulls and bones marked the place of public execution, and which was branded with the anathema of all—Jesus to Golgotha? Jesus—the greatest Philanthropist whom the world has ever known—who went about doing good, whose life was love—He, brought to the place to which were dragged the violent and the dishonest, the assassin and the murderer—Jesus to Golgotha? Jesus—the incarnate Deity—to whom all power was given in heaven and on earth, whose will the armies of heaven obey—He, seized by wicked men, and dragged as if He were a helpless victim of their cruelty, instead of being their Monarch and their Judge—Jesus to Golgotha?

They bring Him—and He comes! They could not have brought Him against His will. One thought in opposition to their malice would have rescued Him from their impotent grasp. Therefore, if they brought Him, it was because He did not resist them. He said of His own life, "No man takes it from me—I lay it down of myself." Why, then, did He allow Himself to be led to Golgotha—the pure to the place of impurity, the 'benevolent One' to a spot identified with violence—the 'omnipotent One', as if, like common culprits dragged there, he was helpless?

Because He was pure and holy He went to Golgotha; for thus He fulfilled the purposes of the Father, as He said, "I delight to do Your will, O my God."

Because He was benevolent He went to Golgotha; for thus it was He must accomplish the redemption of the sinful race He came to save.

Because He was the Son of God He went to Golgotha; for it was with a view to this very hour that He took our nature, and was found in fashion as a man, "made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death." And so "they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha."

Golgotha was a spot of all others the most disgraceful; and so He who occupied the loftiest seat of honor in heaven stooped to the very lowest, in order to lift up to the highest those for whom Golgotha had been a more fitting place.

Golgotha was a region of death. Here was the palace of the last enemy; here he held his revels. It was death's chief temple; here ghastly sacrifices were continually offered up. Here, at the very citadel of death, they led Christ to do battle with death.

Golgotha! There is a legend that it was the very center of the earth's surface—the middle point of the habitable globe. We think nothing of the legend, but very much of the truth it suggests. For the cross of Christ is the true center of the church, where all believers meet, of all tribes and nations, of all parties and sects. Here all may forget their differences; here all, who from different directions converge, are one church.

Golgotha! There is a legend that the body of Adam was buried there, and that the blood of Christ trickled down until it reached the bones; which then were clothed again with flesh and revived. We think nothing of the legend, but very much of the truth which it suggests. For when by faith the blood of Christ is applied to our guilty souls, the old Adam, dead by sin, lives again, but lives renewed and purified. Christ is the second Adam, who remedies the ruin of the first, and by whom paradise lost becomes paradise regained.

Golgotha! It was the "place of a skull." And all are going there. Every possession, every enjoyment, has death for its goal. However beautiful the path, it leads us ever onward to Golgotha. How closely does affection bind us to our friends! But they, too, are traveling to Golgotha; and every day brings us nearer to that "place of a skull." Those who have everything to make life happy, as well as those to whom life is a dreary waste of disappointment, are on their way to Golgotha! Those who are radiant with health and beauty, as well as those who are sickly or deformed, and to whom existence is a burden, are on their way to Golgotha! Those who have riches, and honor, and fame, and power, as well as the poor, the unknown or despised, are on their way to Golgotha!

But if by faith we are disciples and followers of Jesus, our Golgotha is changed by His. No longer the place of a skull, it becomes the gateway of glory. Sorrow turns to joy, sickness to health, poverty to riches, when, in company with Jesus, we are on our way to Golgotha. Yes, afflictions all become blessings, and death is life, through the grace of Him who was led to Golgotha.

Then we will look to Golgotha no longer as the place of a skull, but as the Hill of Paradise, the Mount of Salvation. Golgotha? It is where the lily and the rose exhale their fragrance. Golgotha? It is where the Tree of Life grows, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and whose fruit is ever fresh. Golgotha? It is where the river bursts forth, which flows in every direction for the salvation of the world. Golgotha? It is thence that we catch distant but transporting views of the glories of the heavenly city, and see the open gates of the New Jerusalem inviting us to enter. Golgotha? It is where heavenly breezes blow, and the Sun of Righteousness shines, and where angel voices sing, "Lift your eyes; O, lift your eyes unto this hill, where comes—where comes help." Yes, we will lift our eyes to this Hill of Salvation, and triumph in this place of a skull—mysterious, life-giving, glorious Golgotha.

"They gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh, but He received it not." This was the customary drugged draught, intended to stupefy, and thus deaden pain. It may sometimes be thought necessary to administer such a dose to a dying person; but the responsibility is very great of giving it to a patient who has but a few days or hours to live, and whose real life is thus cut short, inasmuch as all power of thought is destroyed. There was a woman, of whom I heard, who, in her last illness, entreated her physician, saying, "O, doctor, do let me go before my Maker sober." But whatever we suffer, Christ suffered. He endured without mitigation all the pain of that most painful death. Alleviations of suffering are allowed to us, and may be received with thankfulness; but Jesus died as a sacrifice, and would neither avail Himself of His divine power or of human expedients to escape any portion of the trial, and so when "they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh He would not drink." He would not allow His mind to be for a moment incapacitated for His great work, and so "He would not drink." He had to implore forgiveness for His murderers, and so "He would not drink." He had to manifest sympathy for His mother, and commend her to another's care, and so "He would not drink." He had to receive the prayer of the dying thief, and to assure him of paradise, and so "He would not drink." He had to maintain the battle with the foe, and to cry with the loud voice of victory, "It is finished," and so "He would not drink."

"And they crucified Him." They tore off His clothing, which the sick had touched for healing. With cruel nails they fastened to the cross the feet which had borne Him about on errands of mercy, and the hands which had been stretched out only to bless. They raised Him up to be an object of their scorn, while His life's blood slowly ebbed away. Hear the blows of the hammer which drives in those nails! Hear them, you careless ones! Jesus was crucified for you. Can you neglect the salvation which cost Him so dear? "Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by?"

Who nailed Him there? Was it the priests? Was it Pilate? Was it the soldiers? It was our sins—yours and mine. Those sins struck the hammer. We crucified Him. O, let us hate those sins; let us renounce them forever. Backslider, will you crucify the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame? Shall we repeat, in any degree, so far as we are able, the insults of His murderers? Lord, forgive us that we should ever have pierced You. Henceforth may we crucify the world, our sins, ourselves. Henceforth let us trust, adore, and love You as our only Savior, our Lord, our Friend, reigning now on Your glorious throne, though once, for our redemption, crucified at Golgotha.

Favorite Pastor Quotes 3

Favorite Pastor Quotes 3

To Him, they must be playthings and toys! 

(Thomas Spurgeon, "Spiritual Worship")

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

What does this phrase mean? 

I have not time to analyze it closely. Suffice it to say, that the sentence stands as the antithesis of all external religious rituals. It stands opposed to Ceremonialism, Symbolism, Ritualism, and Materialism. "God is Spirit!"

Do not dream of offering Him anything that does not accord with His nature and with His essence. 

If He were a material deity--then I might bring Him fruits, and flowers, and music, and so forth.

If He were a God of religious ritual--then I might deck myself with crosses, burn candles to Him, and waft incense in His honor. 

But our God is a Spirit who rejoices more in the falling tear, the upheaved sigh, the heart prayer, and the heart praise, which "the common people" render unto Him--than in all the decorations and symphonies and temples of a man-made ritual. 

What does the Spirit care for . . .
  your stained-glass windows,
  your snow-white altars,
  your glittering gold ornaments,
  and all your religious decorations?

To Him, they must be playthings and toys! If He takes any notice of them at all--it must be to laugh at them, and to hold them in derision!
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BIBLE MEDITATION: “Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.” Daniel 9:17-19 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Daniel is saying, “O God, please forgive us.  Remove the guilt.”  He’s also praying for the restoration of glory.  Notice “for the Lord’s sake.” Do you know what so many of us are praying for?  For America’s sake.  That won’t get it done. Or for our denomination’s sake, our church’s sake, or even our family’s sake.  But Daniel is praying for not only the removal of guilt but the restoration of glory (v. 18).    When we get concerned for the glory of God, then we’re going to see our prayers answered. So many times we’re just simply trying to get out of difficulty. Do you pray for the glory of God? Do you know what most of us want?  We want revival so we can return to our own ways, once God gets us out of the difficulty we’re in. Do you have a burning, yearning in your heart for the glory of God?  Do you want to see God’s glory spread over this land?  I want to see God do something again that cannot be explained by the pundits on television and the news anchors. ACTION POINT: When we get concerned for the glory of God, then we’re going to see our prayers answered. ~Adrian Rogers~ __________________________________ The highest grace that can adorn the Christian character! (J.C. Ryle) "And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of his servant." Luke 1:46-56 Let us mark Mary's deep humility in this hymn of praise. She who was chosen of God to the high honor of being Messiah's mother--speaks of her own "humble estate," and acknowledges her need of a "Savior." She uses the language of one who has been taught by the grace of God to feel her own sins, and need a Savior for her own soul.  Let us copy this holy humility of our Lord's mother. Like her, let us be lowly in our own eyes, and think little of ourselves. Humility is the highest grace that can adorn the Christian character. It is a true saying of an old divine, "A man has just so much Christianity--as he has humility." This is the grace which is most suitable to sinful human nature.  Above all, humility is the grace which is within the reach of every converted person! All are not rich. All are not learned. All are not highly gifted. All are not preachers. But all children of God may be clothed with humility! ____________________________________ When it lays its head on the pillow of God's omnipotence! (J.C. Ryle) "With God nothing shall be impossible!" Luke 1:37 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 shall can 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! __________________________________________ We are but learning Job's lesson! (Francis Bourdillon, "The Self-abhorrence of Job") "Behold, I am vile!" Job 40:4 At the close of his long trial Job said, "I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear--but now my eye sees You! Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6-7  What did he mean? Probably, that while he had long known God, as having heard of Him, and in a measure believed in and served Him--yet . . .   now he knew Him far more deeply and closely,   now he had experienced God's personal dealings,   now he had had great searchings of heart,   now he had learned far more of God than ever he knew before. How many can say the same! How many can think of some time of sore affliction--and see that at that season and by that means, they learned to know God in a way they had never known Him before--more closely, more deeply, more lovingly. Yes, more lovingly. For this is what God is leading His children to by all His dealings--to know His love to them more, and to love Him more in return.  How many inward comforts does He send in the time of trial!  What deep searchings of heart go on in the silence of a sick-room!  How many earnest prayers are sent up thence!  What sweet thoughts of Christ are given--what a sense of pardon, what peace, what love, what a manifestation of Christ to the soul! These are the gifts of God--the work of His Spirit the Comforter--the blessings of sanctified affliction! Shall we repine when God's chastening hand is laid upon us? Ah, no! Rather let us . . .   look well into our own hearts,   and search out the root of self-righteousness,   and humble ourselves before God,   and shelter ourselves more closely under the shadow of His wing.  He is teaching us and blessing us now. And if, under His teaching, we find ourselves distressed by a new and deeper feeling of our sinfulness--yet let us then think that we are but learning Job's lesson; and let us be led to cast ourselves more earnestly and entirely upon the merits of Christ our Savior, that in Him we may find rest to our souls.