Quotes by Unknown Author
Humility is backing away from a fight that you know that you can win.
Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, it is think of yourself less.
When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ-that is dying to self. When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take all in patient loving silence-that is dying to self. When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it-that is dying to self. When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, any interruption by the will of God-that is dying to self. When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown-that is dying to self. When you see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances-that is dying to self. When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart-that is dying to self.
Humility is the only certain defense against humiliation.
God does not ask about our ability, but our availability.
When God seems absent from us He is often doing His most important work in us.
When clouds of darkness, atheism, and unbelief come to me, I see Thy purpose of love in withdrawing the Spirit that I might prize Him more, in chastening me for my confidence in past successes, that my wound of secret godlessness might be cured.
The Valley of Vision, ed. Arthur Bennett, 1975, p. 79, by permission Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA.
Waiting on God is not in apathy and indifference; it implies intense activity.
Humanism has taught that man is the measure of all things. Man is the ultimate, autonomous norm; that is, he is a law unto himself. His reason, not subservient to divine revelation, is the basis of ethics.
Love is not blind, it sees more not less; but because it sees more it chooses to see less.
1. If both your parents worshipped with you regularly while you were growing up, there’s an 80% likelihood that you’ll worship God regularly as an adult.
2. If only your mother worshipped regularly with you, there’s only a 30% probability that you’ll worship regularly as an adult.
3. If only your father worshipped regularly with you, the likelihood that you’ll worship regularly as an adult increases to 70% percent!
Fathers have an enormous impact on their children’s faith and values. One of your most important ministries is worshipping with your kids!
The Christian father is really an instrument in God’s hand. The whole process of instruction and discipline must be that which God commands and which He administers, so that His authority should be brought into constant and immediate contact with the mind, heart, and conscience of children. The human father should never present himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty. It is only by making God the teacher and ruler on whose authority everything is done that the goals of education can best be attained.
Sickness, when sanctified, teaches us four things: The vanity of the world, the vileness of sin, the helplessness of man and the preciousness of Christ.
Quoted by Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books, 2001, p. 102.
Consider the impact of one godly father, Jonathan Edwards. This famous early American pastor, writer, and one-time president of Princeton University had 11 children. Of his known male descendants:
More than 300 became pastors, missionaries or theological professors
120 were professors at various universities;
110 became attorneys;
60 were prominent authors;
30 were judges;
14 became presidents of universities or colleges;
3 served in the U.S. Congress;
1 became vice president of the United States.
Jesus is no security against life’s storms, but He is perfect security in them.
There is a radical distinction between natural regret and God-given repentance. The flesh can feel remorse, acknowledge its evil deeds, and be ashamed of itself. However, this sort of disgust with past actions can be quickly shrugged off, and the individual can soon go back to his old wicked ways. None of the marks of true repentance described in 2 Corinthians 7:11 are found in his behavior. Out of a list of 10 men in the Bible who said, “I have sinned,” we believe only five actually repented. They were David (2 Sam. 12:13), Nehemiah (Neh. 1:6), Job (Job 42:5,6), Micah (Micah 7:9), and the prodigal son (Luke 15:18).
The great Heavenly Banker will not cash checks for us if our motives are not right. Is not this why so many fail in prayer? Christ’s name is the revelation of His character. To pray “in His name” is to pray in His character, as His representative sent by Him: it is to pray by His Spirit and according to His will; to have His approval in our asking, to seek what He seeks, to ask help to do what He Himself would wish to be done, and to desire to do it not for our own glorification, but for His glory alone. To pray “in His name” we must have identity of interests and purpose. Self and its aims and desires must be entirely controlled by God’s Holy Spirit, so that our wills are in complete harmony with Christ’s will.
He bids us come to Him whenever we like for all we need. His resources are infinite. But He bids us to remember that we should ask only for those things that are according to His will – only for that which will bring glory to His name.
The highest form of prayer is not, “Thy way, O God, not mine,” but “My way, O God, is Thine!” We are taught to pray, not “Thy will be changed,” but “Thy will be done."
Unless the heart is right the prayer must be wrong.
Remaining what He was He became what He was not.
He who thinks most of heaven will do most for earth.
We say we are too busy to pray. But the busier our Lord was, the more He prayed. Sometimes He had no leisure so much as to eat (Mark 3:20); and sometimes He had no leisure for needed rest and sleep (Mark 6:31). Yet He always took time to pray. If frequent prayer, and, at times, long hours of prayer, were necessary for our Savior, are they less necessary for us?
God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God’s Word.
The printed page never flinches, it never shows cowardice; it is never tempted to compromise. The printed page never gets tired; it never gets disheartened. The printed page travels cheaply- you can be a missionary for the price of a stamp. It requires no building in which to operate. The printed page works while you sleep. It never loses its temper in discussion. And it works when you are gone from the scene. The printed page is a visitor that gets inside the home and stays there. It always catches a man in the right mood. It speaks to him only when he is reading it. It never answer’s back and it sticks to the point.
When God puts us in the furnace, His hand is in the thermostat and His eye is on the clock.
Everybody is in favor of progress. It’s the change they don’t like.
Courage is the strength or choice to begin a change. Determination is the persistence to continue that change.
Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all the changes which would jar their little worlds.
We fail Him, but, blessed be His name, He has never failed us, and He never will do so. We doubt Him, we mistrust His love and His providence and His guidance; we “faint because of the way;” we murmur because of the way; yet all the time He is there blessing us, and waiting to pour out upon us a blessing so great that there shall not be room to receive it.
God Ordained Authorities:
Government: Rom. 13:1-7, 1 Pet. 2:17
Employer: Eph. 6: 5-8, Col. 3:22-25, Pet. 2:18
Husband: 1 Pet 3:1, Col 3:18, Eph 5:22
Parent: Eph 6:1-3; Col. 3:20
Elders: Heb 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen
Start doing something. God won’t steer a parked car.
A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he heard, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like the wise old bird?
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Mind what you say or you might say whatever comes to mind.
The sin that nobody deals with is the sin that everybody deals with.
A test is an act of worship; faith untested cannot be trusted.
The reason some folks don’t believe in missions is that the brand of religion they have isn’t worth propagating.
Constructive and Destructive Approaches to Conflict:
Raises & clarifies issues vs. Brings up old issues. Expresses both positive & negative feelings vs. Expresses only negative feelings. Complete and honest information vs. Selective information. Conflict focuses on issue vs. Conflict focuses on person. Accepts mutual blame vs. Blames other person(s) for problem. Focuses on similarities vs. Focuses on differences. Facilitates change to prevent stagnation vs. Minimizes change, increasing conflict. Both win vs. One wins, one loses; or both lose Resolving conflict increases intimacy vs. Escalating conflict decreases intimacy.
When you destroy unity in the church you rip the heart out of the body of Christ.
Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel. Although his captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, they could not defeat him. He testified, “Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night.” During this time he turned to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested, and asked, “Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?” His response: “I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way.” These two men exemplify the supernatural joy that can be experienced by believers who live on the edge of death as the result of being severely persecuted.
Doubts never send anyone to hell, but deception always does.
Distinguish grace from mercy:
Grace-God’s solution to man’s sin.
Mercy-God’s solution to man’s misery.
Grace-Covers the sin.
Mercy-Removes the pain.
Grace-Gives us what we do not deserve.
Mercy-Does not give us what we do deserve
Grace-Unearned favor which saves us.
Mercy-Undeserved favor which forgives us.
Grace-Deals with the cause of sin.
Mercy-Deals with the symptoms of sin.
Grace-Offers pardon for the crime.
Mercy-Offers relief from the punishment.
Grace-Cures or heals the “disease.”
Mercy-Eliminates the pain of the “disease.”
Grace-Regarding salvation it says, “Heaven.”
Mercy-Regarding salvation it says, “No Hell.”
Grace-Says, “I pardon you.”
Mercy-Says, “I pity you”
There are many activities that are perfectly legitimate for the believer. But if you want to be effective for Christ, you have to limit your liberty.
Salvation is not something we achieve, but something we receive!
Those who live in the Lord never see each other the last time.
Most people wish to serve God – but in an advisory capacity only.
In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job.
The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success.
Either God is totally sovereign, ordaining, ruling, and disposing of all things as He will, or He has no control over anything and faith in Him is an utter absurdity.
Worship: The spontaneous expression of the heart to the glory of God.
We are not saved by good works, but for good works.
Good works will never produce salvation, but salvation should produce good works.
Do we realize that there is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer? His great concern is to keep us from praying. He loves to see us “up to our eyes” in work – provided we do not pray. He does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students – provided we are little in prayer.
There is no doubt whatever that the devil opposes our approach to God in prayer, and does all he can to prevent the prayer of faith. His chief way of hindering us is to try to fill our minds with the thought of our needs, so that they shall not be occupied with thoughts of God, our loving Father, to Whom we pray. He wants us to think more of the gift than of the Giver.
Rudeness, yelling, anger, and swearing are a weak man’s imitation of strength.
I confess that…I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility.
The Valley of Vision, ed. Arthur Bennett, 1975, p. 106, by permission Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA.
Because of these remnants of sin dwelling in them and also because of the temptations of the world and Satan, those who have been converted could not remain standing in this grace if left to their own resources. But God is faithful, mercifully strengthening them in the grace once conferred on them and powerfully preserving them in it to the end.
The Canons of Dort, The Fifth Main Point of Doctrine: The Perseverance of the Saints. Article 3- God’s Preservation of the Converted.
Only He who gives faith can maintain it.
In the first place, we must not expect God to reveal His will to us unless we desire to know that will and intend to do that will. Knowledge of God’s will and the performance of that will go together. We are apt to desire to know God’s will so that we may decide whether we will obey or not. Such an attitude is disastrous. “If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching” (John 7:17).
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.
Prayer does not change God’s will it implements it.
Be quick to judge yourself and not to judge others.
Self asserts itself in criticizing others. Let this thought burn itself into your memory – the more like Jesus Christ a man becomes, the less he judges other people. It is an infallible test. Those who are always criticizing others have drifted away from Christ. They may still be His, but have lost His Spirit of love. Beloved reader, if you have a criticizing nature, allow it to dissect yourself and never your neighbor.
For some reason, it is easier to jump to negative conclusions about people than it is to assume the best about them. When we do this, we ascribe to them bad intentions and evil purposes that may not be true. We also reveal something about ourselves, for the faults we see in others are actually are reflection of our own.
General Revelation- Given to all, Intended for all, Sufficient for condemnation, Declares God’s greatness. Specific Revelation- Given to few, Intended for all, Sufficient for salvation, Declares God’s grace.
Before coming to a dogmatic millennial perspective, the lone fact that so many well-intentioned and intelligent Christians believe so variously when it comes to Revelation 20 must give us pause. The Book of Revelation itself is probably the most curious and oft-debated piece of the canon. This ought to place us in a position of caution when either accepting or dismissing another’s interpretation.
The heart that is touched with the loadstone of Divine love, trembles still with godly fear.
There are three degrees in prayer. The lowest is that spoken only by the lips. The next is when, by a resolute effort, we succeed in fixing our thoughts on Divine things. The third is when the soul finds it hard to turn away from God.
It may be just letting your request be made known unto God (Phil. 4:6). We cannot think that prayer need always be a conflict and a wrestle. For if it were, many of us would soon become physical wrecks, suffering from nervous breakdown, and coming to an early grave.
The Bible warns against vanity (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-4). Our goal in exercise should not be to improve the quality of our bodies so that other people will notice and admire us. Rather, the goal of exercising should be to improve our physical health so we will possess more physical energy that we can devote to spiritual goals.
Got Answers, Question: “Should a Christian exercise? What does the Bible say about health?” Used by Permission.
King Solomon said that beauty is vain; yet some people are so vain as to be proud of their vanity.
10 Reasons to Memorize Scripture:
1. It creates and sustains delight in the law of the Lord (Psm. 1:2-3; 119:97).
2. It keeps you from sin (Psm. 119:11).
3. It fulfills your very purpose for living (Mt. 4:4).
4. It fends off the flaming arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:16).
5. It feeds, sustains and grows faith (Pro. 22:18-19; Rom. 10:17).
6. It teaches you how to pray more effectively (Jn. 15:7).
7. It lets the Word of Christ richly dwell in you (Jn. 15:7; Col. 3:15).
8. It assists in encouraging, evangelizing and defending the faith (Pro. 10:11; 1 Pet. 3:16).
9. It promotes ongoing meditation (Jos. 1:8).
10. It was done by Jesus (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10).
Jesus and Paul both urge us to discern when someone’s teaching or behavior is ungodly (Mt. 7:15-20; 2 Tim. 2:23-4:5). We may even rebuke a sinner gently, if necessary (Lk. 17:3-4, Gal. 6:1), with a loving eye to repentance, but all feelings of scorn, superiority, condescension, or self-righteousness are to be confessed as sin before we confront the person (Mt. 7:1-5).
Copied from Romans, Life-change Series, 1987, p. 44. Used by permission of NavPress – www.navpress.com.
Men are wondering why the Revival delays its coming. There is only one thing that can delay it, and that is lack of prayer. All Revivals have been the outcome of prayer. One sometimes longs for the voice of an archangel, but what would that avail if the voice of Christ Himself does not stir us up to pray?
Christ was placed midmost in the world’s history; and in that central position He towers like some vast mountain to heaven – the farther slope stretching backward toward the creation, the hither slope toward the consummation of all things. The ages before look to Him with prophetic gaze; the ages since behold Him by historic faith; by both He is seen in common as the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the unspeakable gift of God to the race.
No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.
Praying will make you leave off sinning, or sinning will make you leave off praying.
The TV is my shepherd, my spiritual life shall want, It makes me to sit down and do nothing for the cause of Christ. It demandeth my spare time. It restoreth my desire for the things of the world. It keepeth me from studying the truth of God’s Word. It leadeth me in the path of failure to attend God’s house. Yea, though I live to be a hundred, I will fear no rental; My “Telly” is with me, its sound and vision comfort me. It prepareth a program for me, even in the presence of visitors. Its volume shall be full. Surely comedy and commercials shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in spiritual poverty forever.
In the celebration of this sacrament we receive the renewed assurance of the forgiveness of our sins, and of our fellowship with Christ; unite with one another as members of His Body, and rejoice in the hope of His return to glory. Therefore, we will commune faithfully and thus renew our pledge of allegiance to Him.
Jealousy is the poison we drink while we wait for our enemy to die.
[You must avoid] a jealous disposition, a secret spirit of envy shut up in your heart; an unpleasant sensation in view of the great prosperity and success of another; a disposition to speak of the faults and failings, rather than the gifts and virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself.
Justification is free (Jn. 4:1)
Sanctification is costly (Lk. 14:25-33)
Justification is instantaneous (Jn. 3:8)
Sanctification is a life-long process (Jn. 8:31)
Justification is by faith (Eph. 2:8)
Sanctification is by faithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2)
Justification is not of works (Eph. 2:9)
Sanctification is of works (Eph. 2:10)
Justification involves Christ’s love for me (Jn. 3:16)
Sanctification involves my love for Christ (1 Jn. 4:19)
Justification concerns Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21)
Sanctification concerns my righteousness (Lk. 14:25-33)
Justification involves my position in Christ (Col. 2:11-14)
Sanctification involves my practice (Col. 3:1-11)
Justification considers what God has done (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Sanctification considers what I am doing (Lk. 14:25-33)
Justification is God’s commitment to me (1 Jn. 5:9-13)
Sanctification is my commitment to God (Jn. 14:15)
Justification requires obedience to one command: to believe the Gospel (Ac. 6:7)
Sanctification requires obedience to all of Christ’s commands (Matt. 28:19-20)
Justification focuses on the cross which Jesus took up once and for all (1 Cor. 1:18)
Sanctification focuses on the cross which I am to take up daily (Lk. 9:53)
Justification is finished at the moment of faith (Jn. 5:24)
Sanctification is not finished until I go to be with the Lord (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
People are funny; they spend money they don’t have to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.
The marks by which the true Church is known are these: If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.
As the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ is the central theme of Scripture. The Old Testament looked ahead to Him; the New Testament looks back to His first coming and on to His second. Canonical Scripture is the divinely inspired and therefore normative witness to Christ. No hermeneutic, therefore, of which the historical Christ is not the focal point is acceptable. Holy Scripture must be treated as what it essentially is – the witness of the Father to the incarnate Son.
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, Exposition: Authority: Christ and the Bible.
Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.