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and Bible Study Quotes "...shut your door..."
Be encouraged and have your faith strengthened in your daily walk with Jesus Christ, through these quotations on the Christian devotional life.
12/2/2008 "Many of us are giving ourselves too good a grade in our Bible study! We believe we are good students of the Bible, but in many cases we only know what others have told us." Tom Brundrett 9/16/2008 "Strive to make prayer and reading and holy company and holy conference your delight; and when delight cometh in, ye shall by little and little smell the sweetness of Christ, till at length your soul be over head and ears in Christ's sweetness. Then shall ye be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord, to know the ravishments of spiritual love, and the glory and excellency of a seen, revealed, felt, and embraced Christ: and then ye shall not be able to loose yourself off Christ, and to bind your soul to old lovers." Rutherford, Samuel Letters 9/10/2008 In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and everyone needs to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, "Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10. Here alone can true rest be found. And this is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God. Amid the hurrying throng, and the strain of life's intense activities, the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. The life will breathe out fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts. Desire of Ages, p 363 8/1/2008 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!¨ You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness." Matthew 23:23 Take heed of spending too much of your precious time about circumstantials, about the minor things of religion--as "mint, dill, and cummin;" or in searching into the circumstances of worship, or in standing stoutly for this or that ceremony, or about inquiring what fruit it was which Adam ate in paradise, or in inquiring after things which God in His infinite wisdom has concealed. It is one of Satan's great designs, to hinder men in the great and weighty duties of religion, by busying them most about the lowest and least matters of religion. Satan is never better pleased, than when he sees Christians puzzled and perplexed about those things in religion, which are of no great consequence or importance. Such as are more busied about ceremonies, than substances; about the form of godliness than the power. Such are more taken up with the outward dress and garb of religion, than they are with the spirit, power, and life of religion. There cannot be a surer nor a greater character of a hypocrite, than to make a great deal of stir about little things in religion, and in the mean while, neglect the great and main things in religion. Thomas Brooks, The Privy Key of Heaven 8/1/2008 "There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God...." Ps. 46:4 The River of God Flows the sacred river, Through the wastes of barren ages, Ever and for ever.
Still on this side and on that side, Grow the healing trees- Bearing fruit for all the hunger Leaves for all Disease.
From the everlasting fountains Still it flows along, Making glad the holy city Of eternal song.
From the throne of Christ in glory, Rock that God has riven, Onward still the crystal river Bears the life of Heaven.
Sheep lie yet in quiet pastures
By the waters still,
Lilies grow in God’s green meadows,
Cedars on His hill.
Still to drink the living waters Come the souls athirst, Eyes behold the Face of Jesus Even as at ï¬rst.
Clad in white there walk beside Him Still the blessed throng- Through the ages sound unsilenced Psaltery and song.
Onwards weary generations
Pass through deserts dread.
Void and silent skies above them, Under them the dead.
Whilst unseen the Lord’s fair garden Round about them glows, And the barren wilderness Blossom as the rose.
Whilst beside them unimagined Glide the waters fair- Whilst around, the psalms ascending Tell that Christ is there. C.P.C., From Hymns of Tersteegen, Suso and Others. 4/10/2008 “Let us remember that in the last judgment we shall not be asked how learned we were and whether we displayed our learning before the world; to what extent we enjoyed the favor of men and knew how to keep it; with what honors we were exalted and how great a reputation in the world we left behind us; or how many treasure of earthly good we amassed for our children and thereby drew a curse upon ourselves. Instead we shall be asked how faithfully and with how childlike a heart we sought to further the kingdom of God; with how pure and godly a teaching and how worthy an example we tried to edify our hearers amid the scorn of the world, denial of self, taking up of the cross, and imitation of our Savior; with what zeal we opposed not only error but also wickedness of life; or with what constancy and cheerfulness we endured the persecution or adversity thrust upon us by the manifestly godless world or by false brethren, and amid such suffering praised our God.” Philip Spener 3/30/2008 "He hath made us accepted in the beloved." Ephesians 1:6 "If you cannot bring to your beloved God many and great offerings such as meditation, prayer, and thanksgiving, bring to him what you have and can, and with these, a good will and holy desires; and hope that you might please him in your worship. To have such a holy desire, indeed, to wish to have one, is not a small gift or sacrifice. It too pleases God. ... God does not demand more from you than his grace works in you and you cannot give him more than he has given you. Pray to your Lord Jesus Christ that he make your sacrifice and gifts perfect with his perfect sacrifice, for your perfection is in him; in us, it is in part. Speak as follows: Dear God and Father, take my meditation, faith, prayer, and thanksgiving in your dear Son, and do not look on it as it is in itself but [as it is] in Christ; thus, it will give you pleasure as a perfect work; my Lord Jesus will make that perfect which is lacking in me. Thus, your meditation, prayer, and thanksgiving succeeds and even if it is in itself weak and dark, and has its shortcomings, it is a great perfection, a great light and glory from the merit of Christ. ... Your old acts are in themselves nothing, but if they are adorned with Christ's perfection, all your works truly please God. Apples that are brought in in golden trays are seen as particularly valuable. Apples in themselves are not considered so great, but they are more lovely if they are brought in in golden rays. So it is with our prayer, meditation and thanksgiving in Christ." Johann Arndt, True Christianity, p. 180 2/26/2008 "Yield yourself meekly and obediently to the authority and teaching of Christ, accepting human guidance only so far as it comes with a “thus says the Lord” as its divine endorsement. Our only safeguard in a matter of such inï¬ï¿½nite moment as our future well being, is God’s pure Word; our only secure place, the feet of the Savior. Sitting there as His lowly disciple, the Holy Spirit will lead our minds into the truth, even “the truth as it is in Jesus,” as it emanates from Jesus, as it speaks of Jesus, as it strengthens our faith in, and inspires our love to, Jesus, and as it prepares us to go and be with Jesus forever." 12/3/2008 “Our best work for God cannot be done unless we have learned to be quiet; still, that God may mold us; tranquil, that the tremor of our nerves may not interfere with the thrill of his energy; calm that we may drop the silt and mud, which make our hearts so dull and so inapt to mirror the deep blue of the heavens above.... The restful heart lives above the storm and strife, with Christ; sensitive to human sorrow and to its own, but able to discern the purposes of divine wisdom; to await the unfolding of the divine plan; and to trust the love of the divine heart. It keeps silence for his word. Its daily task is holy. It is not disturbed by emotional change. Such is its acquiescence in the divine will that it is content with whatever comes. Its winters are always going, its springs always coming; the turtles call softly within its woods, the flowers deck its soil. ‘I felt,’ said Fletcher, ‘the will of my God like unto a soft pillow, upon which I could lie down and find rest and safety in all circumstances....’ There is not unnatural quietism in this life—rather the most intense earnestness and activity. When the nature is yielded up completely to the Holy Ghost, it attains to a speed of movement and a strength of endeavor, which can only be accounted for by remembering that when once a man has surrendered himself to the current of the divine nature, he will acquire something of its velocity and force. But in the midst of the most rapid and vehement movement there is rest—deep, sweet rest.” F B Meyer, Joshua, (Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1977), p. 145. 11/5/2007 You ask why I follow this Jesus?
Why I love Him the way I do? When the world's turned away from His teachings And the people who serve Him are few. It's not the rewards I'm after Or gifts that I hope to receive It's the Presence that calls for commitment It's the Spirit I trust and believe. The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful Or spare them all suffering and pain, Like everyone else I have burdens, And walk through my share of rain. Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose, And that joy only Christians have known, I never know what comes tomorrow, But I do know I'm never alone. It's the love always there when you need it; It's the words that redeem and inspire, It's the longing to ever be with Him That burns in my heart like a fire. So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus? Well, friend, that's so easy to see, But the one thing that fills me with wonder is Why Jesus loves someone like me. —Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries 10/29/2007 O for a thousand tongues to sing My gracious Master and my God, Jesus! the name that charms our fears, He breaks the power of canceled sin, He speaks, and, listening to His voice, Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, In Christ your Head, you then shall know, Glory to God, and praise and love On this glad day the glorious Sun Sudden expired the legal strife, Then with my heart I first believed, I felt my Lord’s atoning blood I found and owned His promise true, Look unto Him, ye nations, own See all your sins on Jesus laid: Awake from guilty nature’s sleep, Harlots and publicans and thieves Murderers and all ye hellish crew With me, your chief, ye then shall know, —Charles Wesley on the first anniversary of his conversion, inspired by a conversation with Peter Boehler who stated that if he had a 1,000 tongues, they would all be dedicated to God.
9/30/2007 "The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience." Oswald Chambers 9/28/2007 “WELL What are ages and the lapse of time
Match’d against truths, as lasting as sublime? Can length of years on God Himself exact? Or make that ï¬ï¿½ction, which was once a fact? No marble and recording brass decay, And, like the graver’s memory, pass away; The works of man inherit, as is just, Their author’s frailty, and return to dust; But Truth divine forever stands secure, Its head is guarded as its base is sure; Fix’d in the rolling flood of endless years, The pillar of the eternal plan appears, The raving storm and dashing wave deï¬ï¿½es, Built by that Architect who built the skies.” —William Cowper 9/27/2007 "None of them that wait on him shall be ashamed...." Ps. 69:6 "Never trust your own judgment. When your common sense is most sure of the rightness of a certain course of action, it will be best to make assurance doubly sure by lifting up your soul to God, that it may dim with his No, or glisten with his Yes. When voices within or without would hasten you to decide on the strength of your own conclusions, then be careful to refer the whole matter form the lower court of your own judgment to the supreme tribunal of God’s. If there is any doubt or hesitation left after such reference, be sure that as yet the time has not come for you to understand all God’s will. Under such circumstances-wait. There the responsibility of the pause, and all it may involve, is on God; and dare still to wait…. If you trust God absolutely, it is for him to give you clear directions as to what you should do. And when the time for action arrives, he will have given you such unmistakable indications of his will that you will not be able to mistake them or err therein. ‘None of them that wait on him shall be ashamed.’ Before entering into any alliance-taking a partner in life, going into a business with another, yielding assent to any proposition which involves confederation with others-be sure to ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord. He will assuredly answer by an irresistible impulse-by the voice of a friend; by a circumstance strange and unexpected; by a passage of Scripture. He will choose his own messenger; but he will send a message.” Meyer, Joshua, p. 118,119. 9/7/2007 “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy ï¬ï¿½ngers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Psalms 8:1-4 "God has stamped his image upon every work of his hand. In every object in nature, we see evidences of his mighty power. The fields of waving grain bow their heads in acknowledgment of the God who gives to man his bread in due season. The trees, bending beneath their weight of precious fruit, bear unmistakable evidence of the love of a beneficent Creator. Every tree and shrub declares the work of infinite power. Upon every blade of grass God's name is written. The opening buds and blooming flowers, with their varied tints, outvying even the glory of Solomon, show forth the skill of the divine Artist. The cattle upon a thousand hills, all with their distinctive characteristics, express the wonders of their Maker, and declare that he is God indeed." Ellen White, Youth Instructor, December 24, 1896 "The book of nature is a fruitful study. That heart is dull indeed, which marks unmoved the varied beauties of recurring seasons. But they who ascribe these lovely scenes to nature's course, pause at the threshold of delight. The infidel's cold creed can thus praise verdant and luxuriant charms. He only gleans real joy, who everywhere beholds the hand, the care, the love, the power, the truth, the wise decree of God." Henry Law, Christ is All: Leviticus, p. 106 8/6//2007 “It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that.” A. W. Tozer 8/05/2007 “Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised.” Desire of Ages, p.391
7/22/2007 4/5/2007 "If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23 "I have neither tongue nor pen to express to you the happiness of such as are in Christ. When ye have sold all that ye have, and bought the field wherein this pearl is, ye will think it no bad market; for if ye be in Him, all His is yours, and ye are in Him; therefore, 'because He liveth, ye shall live also' (John 14.19). 'Father, I will that those whom Thou hast given Me be with Me when I am, to behold My glory that Thou hath given me' (John 17.24). Amen, dear Jesus, let it be according to that word. I wonder that ever your heart should be cast down, if ye believe this truth." Samuel Rutherford 4/2/2007 Whitefield's unparalleled success in evangelistic labours was plainly traceable to two causes and could not be separated from them as direct effects; namely, his unusual prayerfulness, and his habit of reading the Bible on his knees." 3/29/2007 We must make time to be alone with God. The closet and the shut door are indispensable. We must lose the glare of the sunny piazza that we may see the calm angel-figures bending above the altar. We must escape the din of the world, to become accustomed to the accents of the still, small voice. Like David, we must sit before the Lord. Happy are they who have an observatory in their heart-house to which they can often retire beneath the great arch of Eternity, turning their telescope to the mighty constellations that turn beyond life's fever, and reaching regions where the breath of human applause or censure cannot follow! It is only in such moments that the best spiritual gifts will loom on our vision, or we shall have grace to receive them. F B Meyer, Secret of Guidance, "Fact, Faith, Feeling" 3/25/2007 "I saw that the Bible did bring to view just such a Saviour as I needed; and I was perplexed to find how an uninspired book should develop principles so perfectly adapted to the wants of a fallen world. I was constrained to admit that the Scriptures must be a revelation from God. They became my delight; and in Jesus I found a friend. The Saviour became to me the chiefest among ten thousand; and the Scriptures, which before were dark and contradictory, now became a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. My mind became settled and satisfied. I found the Lord God to be a Rock in the midst of the ocean of life. The Bible now became my chief study, and I can truly say, I searched it with great delight. I found the half was never told me. I wondered why I had not seen its beauty and glory before, and marveled that I could ever have rejected it. I found everything revealed that my heart could desire, and a remedy for every disease of the soul. I lost all taste for other reading, and applied my heart to get wisdom from God." William Miller 3/22/2007 “But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6 “A holy life would not be so rare or so difficult a thing if our devotions were not so short and hurried.... We live shabbily because we pray meanly. Plenty of time to feast in our closets will bring marrow and fatness to our lives.” E. M. Bounds Learn More
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