Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers

Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers

Moses wist not - Exodus 34:29

UNCONSCIOUSNESS of goodness is always a main element in the highest forms of goodness: in the same way that unconsciousness is characteristic of the worst forms of depravity. "Samson wist not that the Lord had departed from him."

Directly people become conscious of their superiority to others, and boast of it, it is certain that they have never really seen the beauty of God's holiness, and have no clear knowledge of the condition of their own hearts. They see that they have been cleansed from their old sins; but they do not perceive that the spirit of selfishness has retreated into the springs of motive and intention.

We are all tempted to this terA-congratulatory because we take back-seats. In all this we betray the vanity of our pretensions. This sort of goodness is like a thin veneer of mahogany on very common deal.

The real goodness is more conscious of the remaining evil than of the acquired good; of the lingering darkness than of the hilltops smitten with the dawn; of that which has not been attained. But we can only attain this blessed condition by intimate and prolonged, fellowship with God, in solitudes where human voices and interests cease to distract. The brightness of which Moses was unconscious was caught from the Presence-chamber of the Divine Loveliness. Ah, what patterns are seen on the Mount! What cries are uttered there! What visions are seen there! What revelations are made there! What injunctions are received there! Oh for the closer access, the nearer view, the more intimate face to face intercourse, such as is open still to the friends of God!

~F. B. Meyer~

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The First Step Toward Freedom

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  (John 5:2-6).

Jesus asked this man a seemingly ridiculous question, "Do you want to be made well?"  It's obvious isn't it?  He is at the pool, isn't he?  The only reason people went there was to be healed.  What kind of a question is that to be asking?  Of course, he wanted to be healed.

But Jesus was not convinced.  This man had been stuck in his condition for a long time.  He was not only lying down on the outside, he was lying down on the inside.

Sometimes people get used to living in their problems.  While they may outwardly be going through the motions to get free (generally because they know that is what is expected of them), inwardly they have given up.

The first step toward getting free from your problems and that which binds and restricts your life is wanting it—really wanting it.

You have to stand up on the inside before you can ever stand up on the outside.

Let me be very bold and ask you:  Do you want to be made well?  Do you really want things to change?  Or have you grown accustomed to living under the devil's heel?

~Bayless Conley~

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Glued to their lusts!

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels")

Sinners' hearts are so glued to their lusts, that they will rather part with their nearest, dearest, and choicest enjoyments--than part with their sins! Yes, they will rather part with God, Christ, and all the glory of Heaven--than they will part with some darling lust!

"When He comes, He will convict the world about sin." John 16:8
The first work of the Spirit upon the soul, is to make a man . . .
  look upon sin as an enemy,
  deal with sin as an enemy,
  loathe sin as an enemy,
  fear sin as an enemy, and
  fight against sin as an enemy.

Of all the vile things in the world, sin is the most defiling thing.
Sin makes us red with guilt, and black with filth.

Inward corruptions grieve the gracious soul.
"Oh," says the gracious soul, "that I were but rid of . . .
  this proud heart,
  this hard heart,
  this unbelieving heart,
  this filthy heart,
  this rebellious heart,
  this earthly heart of mine!"

The Christian has a sincere willingness to be rid of all sin.
The enmity which grace works in the heart, is against all sin:
  profitable sins,
  pleasurable sins,
  secret sins,
  disgracing sins,
  darling sins,
  small sins,
  great sins.

It is certain that sin is more afflictive to a gracious soul, than all the losses, crosses, troubles, and trials that he meets with in the world.

True grace would not have one Canaanite left in the holy land.
He would have every Egyptian drowned in the red sea of Christ's blood!
"I hate every false way." Psalm 139:24

Saving grace makes a man as willing to leave his beloved lusts,
  as a slave is willing to leave his chains,
  or a prisoner longs to leave his dungeon,
  or a beggar desires to leave his rags.

A sincere heart had much rather be rid of his sins, than of his sufferings. 
Yes, he would rather be rid the least sins, than of the greatest sufferings.