Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers 2

Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

Turning Desire into Prayer

I want to follow up yesterday's devotional by turning your attention to something I believe is very profound.  It is Romans 10:1, where Paul states,

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

It is important to pray that people be saved.  In fact, I want you to notice how Paul turned his desire into a prayer.

I think if I were to ask any believer, "Do you desire your family to be saved?" they would say yes.  Or, "Do you desire your friends to be saved?" they would answer yes.  Or, "Do you desire your coworkers to be saved?" they would reply yes.

Well, that is great.  That is to be commended, but it is not enough.  Your desire must be turned into a prayer.  It is not enough just to have a desire that they be saved.  That desire has to translate into prayer.  Prayer that they may be saved.

It's all right to pray generally, but it is better to pray specifically.  I encourage you to make a list of every unsaved person in your life.  Start with the network of relationships that already exist in your life.  Make a list of family members, friends, and associates who are not saved, and then do your best to pray for the people on that list every day.

Most Christians genuinely desire for folks to be saved, but not all Christians pray for the salvation of people that they love.  And even fewer pray for the salvation of folks that they work with.

Turn your desire for the unsaved people in your life to be saved into prayer for their salvation. And start today.

~Bayless Conley~

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Only two families inhabit earth!

(Henry Law,)

Only two families inhabit earth!
 
In principle,
in taste,
in habit,
in desire,
in eternal destination--
they are as separate as . . .
  light from darkness,
  heat from cold,
  life from death,
  Heaven from Hell.

There is the serpent's seed.
There is the heaven-born race.

There is the wide wicked world.
There is the little flock of grace.

There is the broad road that leads to eternal destruction.
There is the narrow way that leads to eternal life.

There are the cursed goats.
There are the blessed sheep. 

Hence the importance of the question:
"Have you escaped from nature's thraldom?
 Do your feet tread the upward path of holiness?
 Do you belong to Satan--or to Christ?"

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Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. (Philippians 2:1,2 NLT)

Error, false teaching, and heresy have always been a major means by which the Devil has sought to destroy "the testimony of Jesus," but when he brought in the weapon of what is known as "Modernism," or "Higher Criticism," he used a double-barreled gun. One barrel he aimed directly at the great fundamental truths of the Person of Christ, the work of Christ, and the authority of the Bible. He has thus wrought great havoc, but one wonders whether even that is comparable to the mischief of his second and closely related barrel. By it he has poured out volumes and clouds of suspicion, fear, mistrust, apprehension, and all the grievous effects of these among true Christians. There is not a single person today who is quite safe in this "Christian" world and atmosphere. Some of the most outstanding and erstwhile evangelical stalwarts have at length fallen under its awful miasma, and died of a broken heart because of it – and all so untrue! The enemy stops short at no point short of dividing the last two Christians, and if he cannot find true ground for doing it by spreading suspicion and mistrust – "evil report" – he will make it by giving a twist to anything that is capable of being twisted....

We beg to appeal to all those to whose eyes this message may come, that they will ask the Lord, if need be, to completely convert their mentality in this matter. Would it not be more according to the Spirit of the Master, who said, "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone," and "He that is not against us is for us," if, as our instant reaction to every "report," "rumor," criticism, judgment, insinuation, innuendo, or whisper, we instantly asked the question, "Is it true? Did the speaker – or writer – really mean that? Is there not another meaning to be given to it? Is it not – perhaps – an unfortunate way of putting it, but not necessarily pernicious?" Should we not, before accepting it, find out whether our interpretation is the right one, or whether we may be mistaken? The enemy is engaged more than ever upon a campaign of sabotage within the Church for its internal disintegration, and it is for us to resist him by seeking all the positive ground of fellowship possible, not looking for all the negative ground, either really or imaginatively existent.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

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Saving grace makes a man willing to leave his lusts!

(Thomas Brooks)

Saving grace makes a man as willing to leave his lusts as a . . .
  slave is willing to leave his galley,
  or a prisoner is willing to leave his dungeon,
  or a thief is willing to leave his chains,
  or a beggar is willing to leave his rags!