Monday, June 29, 2015

RICHES RIGHT BENEATH OUR FEET!


The Mount Morgan gold mine in Queensland, Australia, is one of the richest in the world. For many years, though, the original landowners lived in deep poverty on the mountain's barren surface. Even though the vast wealth was out-of-sight, it was beneath their feet all the time.

Many Christians live in a similar situation. They toil along and struggle through their spiritual lives, laboring every step of the way. They are unaware of the vast riches God has promised them, and therefore they do not claim them.

Grace, forgiveness, strength, wisdom, direction, the power to resist temptation, reconciliation, protection, lightened burdens - all these riches and many more are ours. But how do we become aware of them and claim them?

The answer is: Prayerfully read the Bible and pay close attention when the Word of God is preached or taught. When you discover a truth or a promise that clearly applies to you, say to yourself, "That's for me!" As you do, you'll be tapping into the riches of God that lie right beneath your feet.

- David C. Egner (preceptaustin.org)

"Know the promises of God. The great and mighty promises of our Father mean nothing to most people because they do not know what they are."  - Lee Roberson.

Jos 1:8 (GNB): "Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

LOOK OVER & LOOK UP TO GOD


John Wesley was one day walking along the road with a friend who, sore vexed and troubled, expressed his doubts of God's goodness.

'I don't know what I shall do with all my worries and troubles,' said he.

Wesley noticed a cow looking over a stone wall, and put the question, 'Why does a cow look over the wall?'

`Because it can't see through it, I suppose,' replied his friend.

`Precisely!' said Wesley. 'So, if you can't see through your troubles, try looking over them: and look up to God.'

(moreillustrations.com)

Psa 121:1-2 (ESV): "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

"Some people have the power but not the willingness to help. Others have the willingness but not the power. God has both." - Lee Roberson.

Friday, June 26, 2015

MISSING GOD'S PLAN


A gentleman captured two baby eagles & raised them with great care. They grew to be fine specimens of this noble bird, until one day the door of their cage was left open by accident & the birds escaped.

One flew to a nearby tree, where it settled on a low branch, for it could not use its wings, never having learned to fly except in the close confinement of its cage. It was not long until it met an untimely death by the gun of a hunter.

The other eagle fell or was knocked into a swift flowing river & was drowned.

Both of these eagles missed God's plan for their lives by being taken captive by man. They were created to live in high places & to soar aloft in the sky, but instead they were doomed to live on the ground & to meet an early death.

God created you & me to live on a high plane & to carry out the great plans He has for our life. May we have wisdom to yield our lives to Him so that the forces of sin may not take us captive & cause us to miss His plan for our life.

- Gospel Herald (moreillustrations.com)

Jer 29:11 (GNB): "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for."

"There is always death at the end of your plan and life at the end of God's plan." - Rod Parsley.

Luke 7:30 (ISV): "But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God's plan for themselves by refusing to be baptized by John."

Thursday, June 25, 2015

GIVING


A $100 bill, a $20 bill, and a $1 bill met up with each other at the shredder at the end of their natural lives.

The $100 said, “Well, I’ve had a good life. I’ve seen the whole world. I’ve been on cruises in Caribbean, safaris in Africa, and vacations in Europe.”

The $20 said, “Well, I’ve not done quite as well, but I have been to Atlantic City, Disneyland, and Starbucks.”

They both turned to $1 bill and asked, “How about you?” He said, “Oh, I’ve seen the whole nation from coast to coast. I’ve been from church to church to church...”

The $100 bill asked, “What’s a church?”

- Robert Morgan (preceptaustin.org)

"Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your income." - Unknown author.

2Co 9:6-7 (GNB): "Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly."

"After giving something to God, you are no longer accountable for it. Your blessing is based on your giving, not on what others do with the gift." - Ed Cole.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

DENYING CHRIST


A boy in Sunday school unmercifully denounced Peter as a coward for denying his Lord & said that he knew he would have been faithful.

Several weeks later his teacher noticed that he was much depressed & in a private interview asked the reason.

Then he told how he was present when some boys talked against Christians & the Bible in a mean & irreverent way & he had not said a word in reply.

He felt that by his silence he had denied his Lord & was as bad as Peter.

How many older people have been guilty of similar denials!

- (moreillustrations.com)

Tit 1:16 (ISV): "They claim to know God, but they deny him by their actions…."

(Jesus said): "But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven." (Mat 10:33 ISV)

"All men will be Peters in their bragging tongue, and most men will be Peters in their base denial; but few men will be Peters in their quick repentance." - Owen Feltham.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

LOWER…


I used to think that God's gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them.

I now find that God's gifts are on shelves one beneath the other; and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; and that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.

- F. B. Meyer. (moreillustrations.com)

Phi 2:7-9 (BBE): " But he (Jesus)  made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross. For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name."

Jas 4:10 (BBE): "Make yourselves low in the eyes of the Lord and you will be lifted up by him."

"He that is down, needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride. He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide."  - John Bunyan.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

The MOST HUMBLE button


A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church.

Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision.

They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. 

They awarded him the "Most Humble" button for his faithful service.

However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on.

-  Kent Crockett (kentcrockett.com)

"It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment." - Bernard of Clairvaux.

 Psalms 18:27 (GNB): "You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud."

Friday, June 19, 2015

HEALED BY TESTIMONY

I have heard Dr. Fred Moffitt, who was born in Scotland; say that as a boy he stammered so terribly that he was the laughingstock of the neighbors.Soon after he was saved, he attended a testimony meeting. He wanted to testify as to what the Lord had done for him, but the thought of his stammering tongue held him back.

The call to testify became so insistent that he promised the Lord that if a girl sitting near him testified he would, too.

Soon the girl arose & gave her testimony & Fred Moffitt kept his promise.

Not only did the Lord help him to give this testimony but his stammering tongue has given him no further trouble from that day to this. He is pastor of the great First Baptist Church of Frankfort,

 - Sunday School Times (moreillustrations.com)

Act 10:38 (ISV):  "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, he went around doing good and healing everyone who was oppressed by the devil."

Heb 13:8 (CEV): "Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." 

Thursday, June 18, 2015

A DUMMY CHRISTIAN


At a meeting in a city of Nankin, a China man rose and began to cry for mercy with groans and tears.

When at length he found utterance he prayed, "O God, forgive me; I have been a dummy Christian. When I was saved the devil came to me and said, 'There are preachers to do the preaching; you need not bother about it.' I listened to the devil's lie, and all those years I have been a dummy Christian, living in ease while souls have been lost."


Jesus said : "You are salt for the earth...." (Mat 5:13 GW)

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world…"(Mat 5:14 ISV)

We should not ask, "What is wrong with the world?" for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, "What has happened to the salt and light?" - John Stott.

THE SILENT CHRISTIAN


"Well, I never knew before that you were a Christian," said one man to another in a Michigan logging camp, "though we've been on the job together here for two years. When the sky pilot was here last winter and talked with me about my soul, I told him if so clean a chap as you could get along without religion I believed I could take a chance on it myself."

The silent Christian felt that he had been disloyal to Christ.

-  New Century Leader. (moreillustrations.com)

"I assure you that those who declare publicly that they belong to me, the Son of Man will do the same for them before the angels of God. But those who reject me publicly, the Son of Man will also reject them before the angels of God." - Jesus  (Luke 12:8-9 GNB)

"If we understand what lies ahead for those who do not know Christ, there will be a sense of urgency in our witness." - David Jeremiah.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

THE VOICES OF THE WORLD


Appetite says, “Be sensuous, enjoy yourself.”

Education says, “Be resourceful, expand yourself.”

Materialism says, “Be satisfied, please yourself.”

Psychology says, “Be confident, fulfill yourself.”

Pride says, “Be superior, promote yourself.”

Humanism says, “Be capable, believe in yourself.”

But God says, “Be wise, humble yourself.”

- (ministry127.com)

Pro 15:33 (CEV): " Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you."

Pro 1:33 (GNB): "But the person who listens to me will live safely and will be secure from the fear of evil."


Monday, June 15, 2015

CONFESSING SINS


In February of 2008, James Fantroy was convicted of stealing over $20,000 of government grants while he served as a City Council member in Dallas, Texas.

Because Fantroy had kidney cancer and used a wheelchair, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade told him he could choose between serving a month in prison and publicly apologizing for his actions.

Fantroy chose to serve a prison sentence rather than apologize.

- Beaumont Enterprise (ministry127.com)

"Many blush to confess their faults, who never blush to commit them. " - William Secker.

Pro 28:13 says: "If you don't confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up."

Sunday, June 14, 2015

WORDS OF FAITH MOVES THE HAND OF GOD


During a low period in the life of noted author Andrew Murray, he wrote the following words:

“He brought me here. He will keep me here. He will make this trial a blessing. He will bring me out again. Therefore, I am here by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time.”

It is often said that “disappointment is His appointment.” We don’t see that in advance, only in reverse. Be encouraged. God knows what He is doing even when we don’t have a clue.

- Ray Pritchard. (aksermonillustrations. blogspot.in)

Moses answered, "Don't be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today; you will never see these Egyptians again. The LORD will fight for you, and all you have to do is keep still." (Exo 14:13-14)

"Everything you declare with your lips will be tested in your life." - Jack Hyles.

A DISCOURAGER


It happened at the siege of Ladysmith. A civilian was arrested, court martial, and sentenced to a year's imprisonment.

He was a discourager. He would go along the lines and say discouraging words to the men on duty.

He struck no blow for the enemy - not one. He was not disloyal to his country. He was just a discourager - and that in a critical time. The fortunes of the garrison and of the town hung in the balance.

The court-martial adjudged it a crime to speak disheartening words in an hour like that.

And so it is. And that same thing is happening every day in the history of some poor fellow's life. What this old world needs more than all is the man who can cheer.

- Texas Christian Advocate. (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 18:20-21 (GNB) says: "You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words."

"Encouragement is awesome. It can actually change the course of another person's day, week, or life." - Chuck Swindoll.

"Remember that the tongue speaks only what is in the heart." - Theodore Epp.

OUR GREATEST HINDRANCE


Spiritual pride is a great hindrance to spiritual growth.

When the saintly James Harvey was a young curate, he frequently talked with a wise old plowman named Clayton.

One day the subject under discussion was this: "What is the greatest impediment to spiritual growth and happiness?"

The curate said: "Surely to renounce our sinful self."

"No," said the plowman, "the greatest difficulty is to renounce our righteous self."

- Sunday School Times. (moreillustrations.com)

Isa 14:12: (KJV) "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground,..."

Gal 6:3 (ISV): "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself."

Rom 12:3 (KJV): "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

EXCELLENT SPINE


Recently a speaker recalled a story of Spurgeon's concerning a class of boys who were having a Scripture lesson on Daniel.

One of the boys was asked to read some verses aloud, and presently he came to verse three in chapter six, which reads....because an excellent spirit was in him" but by mistake the boy rendered it "....because an excellent spine was in him."

It was undoubtedly bad reading, but it was excellent theology, for Daniel was a man of real backbone"—strong, courageous.

- New Century Leader (moreillustrations.com)

"When God speaks, oftentimes His voice will call for an act of courage on our part." - Charles Stanley.

Heb 13:6 (KJV) says: "…The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." - Billy Graham.

What to do with this talent?


There are men who pride themselves on their candor, and it degenerates into brutality.

One such man said to John Wesley once, "Mr. Wesley, I pride myself in speaking my mind; that is my talent."

"Well," said John Wesley, "the Lord wouldn't mind if you buried that!"

—Dr. Griffith Thomas (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 12:18(ISV): "Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword, but what the wise say promotes healing."

Js 1:26: "Do you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself."

THE MESSAGE


The center of the preacher's message is always Christ.

A preacher said that one Sunday he preached himself, and all the scholars came forward to praise him.

The next Sunday he preached Christ, and all the sinners came up to thank him.

To be worthy of the thanks of sinners, not the praise of men, should be the ambition of a true minister.

(moreillustrations.com)

John 12:43 (ISV): "For they (pharisees) loved the praise of human beings more than the praise of God."

"And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." - Jesus (John 8:29).

DEATH TO SELF


In a city that he visited during one of his many journeys preaching the Word of God, Dr. A. C. Gaebelein noticed a sign in a small tailoring and dyeing establishment which read:

I LIVE TO DYE, I DYE TO LIVE 
THE MORE I DYE THE MORE I LIVE 
THE MORE I LIVE THE MORE I DYE

Read these words aloud, and you will hear a great spiritual truth.

The more there is death to self, that much more fully is the Lord Jesus Christ able to live His life in us.

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me." (Gal 2:20).
This kind of living is possible to every believer by full appropriation of all that is his in Christ. "So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 6:11).

(moreillustrations.com)

"Live each day as if it were your last - some day you will be alright." - Author unknown.

MADE TO FLY


Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificient falcons. He gave the birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed & one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers & sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly.

Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need someone more familiar with the country side to understand the nature of this problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go & get a farmer."

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle."

The court quickly located the farmer, who came & stood before the king. "The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, "It was very easy, your highness, I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting."

We are all made to fly - to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But at times we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us.
Let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to & free ourselves for the glory of God.

(academictips.org)

Isa 43:18-19 (GNB) says: "But the Lord says, "Do not cling to the events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do....I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there."

Friday, June 5, 2015

Why God Changes Our Plans


Sudden changes in our plans may be hard to accept. But they may be forced upon us by some circumstance over which we may have no control. And God may be back of the circumstance. Yet the plans were very dear to us, and we had set our hearts upon carrying them through.

Why should God have permitted them to be changed, or to be set aside completely?

Someone has written: " 'Thou God seest me' is a precious thought. He sees us and our path beset with danger, and He plans our ways and guides us accordingly. That is why he often permits reverses and 'failure' to come our way. He changes our plans, for He sees the danger in them."

What a blessing, then, that God does not always let us carry out our plans!

As this writer reminds us: "knowing the end from the beginning, He cannot mistake." Our plans are sometimes mistaken; God's plans are always perfect.

—The Sunday School Times.  (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 14:12 (ISV): "There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it’s a road to death."


Isa 48:17 (NET): This is what the LORD, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go."

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

STEWARDSHIP


Guy L. Morrill, in his book, Stewardship Stories, tells of a Sunday school class of boys, who for a number of weeks had studied stewardship.

As they came to the end of their study of this subject, their teacher asked them to write out what they thought stewardship meant.

One boy wrote this: "Stewardship means that life is a great ship, loaded with a rich cargo of many things to be delivered to many peoples in many places. God is the owner, but I am the captain of the ship."

How do you think of yourself? As owner or as captain of the things you possess? Are you delivering the goods?

(moreillustrations.com)

“If I have but enough for myself and family, I am steward only for myself and them; if I have more, I am but a steward of that abundance for others.” - George Herbert.

Luke 16:12 (CEV): “And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own?”

“At the end of your life on earth you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you.” - Rick Warren.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

FEAR OF DEATH


There was an old man in the hospital who was dying. The family was called to the hospital for the final hours.

The family doctor was called to examine the old gentleman and give him his prognosis.

Not one member of the family was willing to tell the old gentleman that he had only a short while to live, but they did ask if he had a final request.

In a whisper the old fellow answered, "Yes, get me another doctor."

(hlpawhite.tripod.com)

“As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all.” - Blaise Pascal.

But Ecc 7:4 (GNB) says: “Someone who is always thinking about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death.”

“Death may be the king of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings!” - D.L. Moody.

Heb 2:14-15 (CEV): “We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying.”

“Take your stand on the Rock of Ages. Let death, let the judgment come: the victory is Christ's and yours through Him.” - D.L. Moody.

Monday, June 1, 2015

GIVING TO GOD


A little girl told an older friend that she was going to give her father a pair of slippers for his birthday.

"Where will you get your money?" asked the friend.

She opened her eyes wide and said, "Why, father will give me the money."

For a moment the friend was silent as she thought that the father would buy his own birthday present.

And the father loved the little girl and appreciated the gift, even though he paid for it himself.

We have nothing of our own to give to God. - Selected.

(moreillustrations.com)

Psa 50:12-14 (GNB): (God says) "If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food, for the world and everything in it is mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.”

“In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth; God is pleased when we're pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker's praise without anxiety.” - A.W. Tozer.