Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

 Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

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The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. (Revelation 21:23 NLT)

Light is not a mental thing: that is to say, it is not just a matter of having a store of mental knowledge. That is not light. It is possible to have an enormous amount of doctrine and truth and never be luminaries, that is, never register impact upon darkness. Real light is experimental: that is to say, it is the fruit of experience, the experience of suffering. How have you children of God come to know what you do know of the Lord, that real kind of knowledge of the Lord which is so precious to us, which means so much and which makes you in that measure of value to others? It is through suffering, it is through the difficult way the Lord has led you, it is through the work of the Cross that He has wrought in you. “The Lamb is the lamp” – suffering leading to knowledge, to light, to understanding. It is the only way. These people at the end will be in the good of a great and wonderful revelation which has come by their fellowship with Christ in His sufferings. It is very true. It may not be too comforting from one standpoint, but it is true; and it ought to help us to realize this: that the Lord, in the way in which He is dealing with us, in the sufferings which He allows to come upon us, is really seeking our education, that we may have a knowledge of Himself which can only come that way, and which is a peculiar kind of knowledge of tremendous value to us and through us to others. We do not learn in any other way. It is the Lamb, always the Lamb-principle, the way of suffering and sacrifice and self-emptying, that brings us into the knowledge of the Lord. “The Lamb is the lamp thereof”; and, just as it is deeper death unto fuller life, so it may often be deeper darkness unto fuller light.

The Lord seems to lead us in a way where we are less and less able naturally to understand Him. He gets us altogether out of our natural capacity, beyond our capacity for interpreting His ways. We just do not know what the Lord is doing, or why He is doing what He is doing; yet it is the way by which we come to a very real kind of inward knowledge of Himself. It may not be capable of explanation in words to anybody, but we know, somehow or other we know, and that is a mighty thing, a mighty power of knowledge. It is light through the Cross.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

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Believers’ Responsibility

Luke 3:22

As we saw yesterday, words are but one part of our communication. Now let’s look at two types of messages we should purposefully model for the kids in our life.

First, children need affirmation that they are loved, accepted, and competent—the very things we see the Father speaking about to His Son in today’s passage. We must give children a sense of security and belonging so they won’t look to unhealthy sources for acceptance. And the way we care and provide for them will help them grasp the heavenly Father’s love.

Second, children learn godliness when it is modeled. Reading Scripture aloud and sharing stories of the Lord’s involvement in our life are both important, but our everyday actions matter just as much. What we do should match what we say and testify about God’s love. For example, we can’t expect kids to understand the golden rule if we act with selfishness, arrogance, or insensitivity.

Modeling a godly life is often an intentional pursuit, like studying Scripture or serving as a family on a mission trip. It can also be as simple and unplanned as picking up a piece of trash on a neighbor’s lawn. But keep in mind that actions and words aren’t always perceived correctly. Check that the child’s understanding matches the message you hope to communicate.

Your words and actions teach lessons. Children need to know, beyond any doubt, that they’re treasured and capable, so be mindful about giving them the tools they need in order to follow Christ. Remember, God doesn’t expect perfection. He’ll guide the willing heart—and cover missteps with His grace.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

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Yea, hath God said?

When the tempter came to Jesus, he said, If thou be the Son of God. - Jesus said unto him, It is written, ... it is written, ... it is written. - Then the devil leaveth him.

I may not return with thee. For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him. The man of God ... was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD. - Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

GEN. 3:1. Matt. 4:3. -Matt. 4:4,7,10. -Matt. 4:11. I Kgs. 13:16 19,26. Gal. 1:8. Psa. 119:11.

~Samuel Bagster~

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The holiness of a Christian!

(Letters of John Newton)

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells." Romans 7:18

The depravity of our fallen nature is, and will be, universally and always felt during our present earthly state. It insinuates into, and mixes with all our thoughts, and all our actions. It is inseparable from us, as the shadow from our bodies when the sun shines upon us.

The holiness of a Christian does not consist in a deliverance from depravity--but in being sensible of it, striving against it, and being humbled under it; and taking occasion from thence to admire our Savior, and rejoice in Him as our complete righteousness and sanctification.

The grace of God puts a great deal into the heart--but it takes nothing out. Nature and grace, flesh and spirit, will antagonize each other to the end of life. Therefore the life of a believer, while in the body, is a continual state of warfare.

The apostle felt a law in his members warring against the law of his mind. He would do good, but evil was present with him. He groaned, being burdened.

When we first set out, we hope to be spiritually rich--but the Lord's purpose is to make us sensible of our extreme poverty. We wish to be something--but He is teaching us that we are nothing.

When indeed we are willing to be nothing, that He may be all in all, in us and for us--then I think we reach the very acme of holiness. Then, while we feel that we have no sufficiency of ourselves, we shall be enabled to do all things that occur in the line of duty, through Him strengthening us.