JOB AND NAPOLEON

Napoleon Buonaparte said:

“I die before my time; and my body will be given back to earth, to become the food of worms. Such is the fate which so soon awaits the great Napoleon.”

What a contrast to the words of Job who said:

“I know that my Redeemer liveth - and though after my skin worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!” (Job 19:25-26)

- (moreillustrations.com)

“When the time comes for you to die, you need not be afraid, because death cannot separate you from God's love.” -  Charles Spurgeon.

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

“Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death.” -  George Whitefield.

STANDING ON THE TRUTH

Winston Churchill said: “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up & hurry off as if nothing had happened.”

That may be a common response to truth, but it places those who respond accordingly on the road to tragedy & destruction.

There is no way to love & follow God without loving & following truth. The two cannot be separated.

- (ministry127.com)

John 14:6 (ICB): Jesus answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.

“An honest heart loves the Truth.” -  A.W. Pink.

“Do the truth you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know.” -  George Macdonald.

DOING WHAT IS IMPORTANT

The Israeli settlement of Netzarim in the heart of the Gaza Strip was a point of much conflict with militant Palestinians for several years.

The conflict was so great that the settlement was evacuated in 2005.

Those who lived in Netzarim did so at great personal risk because they felt it was an important part of keeping their land free.

A schoolteacher, Shlomit Ziv, who lived in Netzarim in 2001 said:

“I don’t live where it’s comfortable; I live where it’s important to live.”

What would happen if Christians quit worrying about being comfortable & started doing what is important to God - leading lost souls to Him?

Source: www.time.com, June 24, 2001 (ministry127.com)

“You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy and concern on what wasn't going to last?” -  Rick Warren.

1 Tim 2:4 (ERV): “God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth.”

FAITHFUL IN SMALL MATTERS

Charles Spurgeon preached to thousands in London each Lord’s day, yet he started his ministry by passing out tracts & teaching a Sunday school class as a teenager.

He was eventually invited to remote places in the country side to preach & after that became known as one of the greatest preachers in England.

Spurgeon said: “I am perfectly sure, that if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in remote country places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men & women in large buildings all over the land.”

Source: C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Volume 2 (ministry127.com)

Luke 16:10 (GNT): “Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.”

1 Cor 15:58 (GNT): “So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.”

Dr BILLY GRAHAM (1918-2018)

William Franklin Graham Jr, better known as Billy Graham, was an Evangelist.

He was close to & a spiritual adviser to multiple U.S. Presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush, who said it was a conversation with Graham that led them to become committed Christians.

He was number seven on ‘Gallup's list of most widely admired people of the 20th century’.

He preached in person to more people around the world than anyone who have ever lived.

As of 1993, more than 2.5 million people had stepped forward at his crusades to "accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior."

As of 2002, his lifetime audience, including radio & television broadcasts, topped two billion.

In 2007, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association estimated that he had preached the Gospel to more than 215 million people in more than 185 countries & territories since beginning his crusades in 1947.

For many years he wrote a daily advice column ‘à la Dear Abby’, where every reader's dilemma was answered with the same ultimate advice: ‘Come to Christ’.

His 30 books include ‘How to be Born Again’.

In 1953, he started World Wide Pictures, a Christian studio that has been cranking out Christian films ever since.

In November 1995, on his 77th birthday, Mr. Graham named his son Franklin to succeed him as head of the BGEA. His daughter Anne Graham Lotz and his grandsons Will Graham & William Graham are also in ministry.

- (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.in)

Graham's last decades were slowed by illness & injury. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1989, felled by broken bones, bouts of hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain), prostate cancer & rounds of pneumonia.

Age, illness & bone-breaking falls left him struggling to deliver 20-minute sermons.

The Rev. Billy Graham, a North Carolina farmer’s son, the nation’s best-known Christian evangelist for more than 60 years, died on Wednesday, 21^st Feb, 2018 at his home in N.C. He was 99.

(News clipping)

“My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world.” – Billy Graham.

2 Tim 4:5 (HCSB): “But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

DISTRACTIONS

Hebrews 12:1 admonishes Christians to “…Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Many times those weights are simple distractions that create enormous drag.

One preacher illustrated it this way: “It’s perfectly legal to run a race in army boots.” 

He said it wasn’t wise & would guarantee failure, but you can legally do it. Many of the things that prevent spiritual growth & development are legal; they just don’t lead to success.

Source: The Last Men’s Book You’ll Ever Need, David Moore (ministry127.com)

“Do today's duty, fight today's temptation; do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see, and could not understand if you saw them.” -  Charles Kingsley.

COMFORT

Mrs. Charles Beer, for many years, with her husband, a missionary in Narsapur, India, sat on one side of the bed of her dying husband.

Opposite her, on the other side, sat Mr. E. S. Bowden, their close associate in the Lord's work among the Telugus for many years.

They watched his strength failing & looked on as the veteran worker passed into the presence of his Lord whom he had loved & served.

As the heart ceased to beat & the last breath was drawn, Mr. Bowden looked across to the now widowed & sorrowing sister & said quietly: “Gone in to see the King.”

Mrs. Beer found in those words the comfort that her heart needed.

2 Cor 5:8 (NLV): “We are sure we will be glad to be free of these bodies. It will be good to be at home with the Lord.”

- (moreillustrations.com)

“The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering and the most comfortable way of dying.” -  John Flavel.

"ARE YOU SURE?"

In a humble cottage out on a jagged promontory, a fisherman lay dying. His pastor sat beside him.

"Are you sure, John?" he asked the old man.

Rising on his elbow, the old veteran bade him look seaward through the open window.

"Are the Seven Stones still there?" he asked. "And the Twin Maidens and the Wolf Rock - are they still there?"

"Yes, yes," replied his pastor, "they are still there."

Lying back upon his pillow, the dying man said, reverently: “Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken, says your compassionate Lord.” (Isa 54:10 CSB)

- Christian Herald (moreillustrations.com)

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” -  George Mueller.

               

INVEST WISELY

Termites ate 10 million rupees ($222,000) in money that was stored at a bank in a steel chest. The manager of the bank in Barabanki, U.P. India discovered the damage on April 20, 2011.

Termites had damaged furniture in the bank before.

Mat 6:19-20 (ESV): “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek, (ministry127.com)

“The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.” -  Billy Sunday.

“Most people fail to realize that money is both a test and trust from God.” -  Rick Warren.

SIN

The first temptation in the history of the human race took place in a garden & with man at peace with the whole animal creation.

The temptation of Jesus, the second Adam, took place in a wilderness, where he "was with the wild beasts" (Mark 1:13).

That contrast between the first temptation & the temptation of Jesus - one in a garden, the other in a desert - is a picture of the ruin which had been wrought by sin.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Eze 18:20 (NLT): “The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.”

“It won't save your soul if your wife is a Christian. You have got to be something more than a brother-in-law to the Church.” -  Billy Sunday.

HAPPINESS

One morning R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling.

“I'm burdened this morning!” was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words.

So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?”

“Yes, but it's a wonderful burden - it's an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!”

- (ministry127.com)

“No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he should be.” -  A.W. Tozer.

Ps 119:56 (GNT): “I find my happiness in obeying your commands.”

“Money won't make you happy, but everybody wants to find out for themselves.” -  Zig Ziglar.

LOVE DOES NOT SEEK A REWARD

On May 2, 1962, Gladys Kidd placed a dramatic advertisement in the San Francisco Examiner:

“I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him & bring about his vindication.”

Vincent Hallinan, one of San Francisco’s best lawyers saw the advertisement, felt pity & contacted the woman. He took on the case & ended up getting the innocent man released from all charges.

Afterward, the attorney refused the lady’s offer of ten years of service, noting that he was satisfied to have saved an innocent man from death.

Stories of kindhearted humans helping others with no kickback or reward offsets the grimness of news & gives hope of good in the world.

Yet, we know a stronger kind of love, a love that gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

Source: The Universal Journalist, David Randall (ministry127.com)

Ps 36:7 (VOICE): “Your strong love, O True God, is precious. All people run for shelter under the shadow of Your wings.”

“Measure not God's love and favor by your own feeling. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day as it does in the brightest. The difference is not in the sun, but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof.” -  Richard Sibbes.

LOVE OF MONEY

HICKS - "I've got to borrow $200 somewhere."

WICKS - "Take my advice & borrow $300."

HICKS - "But I only need $200."

WICKS - "That doesn't make any difference. Borrow $300 & pay back $100 of it in two installments at intervals of a month. Then the man that you borrow from will think he is going to get the rest of it."

- (moreillustrations.com)

1 Tim 6:10 (WE): “Because people love money they do all kinds of wrong things. Some people have stopped believing in God because they want money so much. And it brings them many troubles.”

“Our greatest lack is not money for any undertaking, but rather ideas, if the ideas are good; cash will somehow flow to where it is needed.” -  Robert H. Schuller.

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” -  Billy Graham.

WILL OF GOD

Be slow to take new steps in the Lord's service, or in your business, or in your families. Weigh everything well; weigh all in the light of the Holy Scriptures & in the fear of God.

Seek to have no will of your own; in order to ascertain the mind of God, regarding any steps you propose to take; so that you can honestly say, you are willing to do the will of God, if He will only please to instruct you.

But when you have found out what the will of God is, seek for His help & seek it earnestly, perseveringly, patiently, believingly & expectantly: and you will surely, in His own time & way, obtain it.

- (moreillustrations.com)             

John 4:34 (NET): Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.”

“Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God's purposes, not vice versa.” -  Rick Warren.

         

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

Two brothers, ages 8 and 4, were discussing Adam and Eve.

The eight-year-old asked: “How did Adam and Eve die?”

And the four-year-old said: “They ate bad fruit.”

- (ministry127.com)           

Mat 7: 15-20 (NLV): “Watch out for false teachers. They come to you dressed as if they were sheep. On the inside they are hungry wolves.  You will know them by their fruit… Do men pick grapes from thorns? ...  A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit...  So you will know them by their fruit.”

“It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf.” -  Thomas Fuller.

SELF ESTEEM

In 2004, Dove commissioned a study that interviewed women around the globe asking them what they thought about beauty.

Only 2% of the women described themselves as beautiful.

A companion article quoted Angelina Jolie as saying: “I struggle with low-self esteem all the time. I think everyone does. I have so much wrong with me, it's unbelievable.”

Source: In Other Words (ministry127.com)

“Many of us harbor hidden low self-esteem. We think everything and everyone more important than ourselves and think that meeting their needs is more important than meeting our own. But if you run out of gas, everyone riding with you will be left stranded.” -  T.D. Jakes.

Ps 84:11 (GNT): “The Lord is our protector and glorious king, blessing us with kindness and honor. He does not refuse any good thing to those who do what is right.”

APPROVAL OF GOD

A new ticket-collector had been appointed at a suburban railway station & commenced his duties during a severe spell of wintry weather.

Being very conscientious, he insisted on all season tickets being produced as passengers passed through the gate of the station.

His predecessor had got to know most of the regular passengers & allowed them to pass without asking them to show their season-tickets.

After a few days, as the new ticket-collector continued to insist on all season tickets being shown, one of the travelers said to him one evening: “You're not at all popular with the travelling public, sir.”

Pointing to the Station-Master's Office, the ticket-collector replied: “I don't mind that. It's the man in there with whom I want to be popular; it's his approval that I desire.”

- (moreillustrations.com)

“You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me?”  – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:44 GNT)

“It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation. He does not want to be holy; he only wants to seem to be holy. He is more concerned with his reputation for righteousness than about actually becoming righteous. The approval of men matters more to him than the approval of God.” -  Augustine.

 

PLEASING GOD

Heb 11:6 (EHV): “And without faith it is impossible to please God. Indeed, it is necessary for the one who approaches God to believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

“An honest heart seeks to please God in all things and offend Him in none.” -  A.W. Pink.

“Many people live righteously for selfish or misguided reasons. If you are striving to please God, examine your motives today.” -  Paul Chappell.

“The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:29 NIRV)

“If you seek to please men you can never be a servant of the Lord.” -  Zac Poonen.

“When we seek His word above all others, His encouragement before all others, His truth instead of all others, then we will be pleasing to Him more than all others.”  -  Woodrow Kroll.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Our life is like a house with many rooms. One by one, the Holy Spirit goes into each room & turns on the light.

We have a choice.

We can either respond & let Him show us what He wants, or we can try to turn off the light & keep Him out of the room.

If we keep trying to turn off the light, there will come a point when He will stop trying to turn it on.

- (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.in)

Ep 4:30 (NLV): “Do not make God’s Holy Spirit have sorrow for the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a mark on you for the day you will be set free.”

“I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled.” -  D.L. Moody.

LOVE OF MONEY

At one time Mr. P.T. Barnum, head of the great Barnum & Bailey Circus, invited C H Spurgeon of London to speak in the large tent at his traveling circus. He made every concession to make the offer attractive to Spurgeon.

Barnum would provide the musical talent, unless Spurgeon wished to provide his own. He would provide any equipment or manpower Spurgeon desired. Spurgeon could speak as long or as short as he wished.

There was only one basic stipulation! Barnum Circus Association would take the gate receipts & pay Spurgeon $1000 per sermon.

This was a generous offer in Spurgeon’s day. Many would doubtless have said, “What a wonderful opportunity to reach people with the Gospel!”

But not Spurgeon!

Knowing it would be wrong to join hands with the world, he sent a reply to Mr. Barnum:

Dear Mr. Barnum,

Thank you for your kind invitation to lecture in your circus tents in America. You will find my answer in Acts 13:10.

Very sincerely yours,

Charles H. Spurgeon

(Acts 13:10 (EHV): “You are full of every kind of deceit and fraud, you son of the Devil, you enemy of all righteousness! Will you never stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord?”)

It is sad that not all Christians have such convictions.

Source: The Gold Mine, Lee Roberson (ministry127.com) 

PRESSURE FORMS DIAMONDS

Diamonds are formed under great pressure & heat. If these conditions do not exist, they are simply not formed. It is not that they will be low quality, or smaller in size, but they will not form.

God brings His refining fire into our lives to create in us what He sees fit. When He sees our lack of character, He will bring into our lives what we need.

So next time a fiery trial comes, thank God. He is producing exactly what He knows you need in your life.

The only difference between a diamond & a piece of coal is pressure.

- (ministry127.com)

Js 1:2-4 (GNT):  “My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way,  for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.  Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

“Are you weak? Weary? Confused? Troubled? Pressured? How is your relationship with God? Is it held in its place of priority? I believe the greater the pressure, the greater your need for time alone with Him.” -  Kay Arthur.

WITNESSING

Missionary labor & personal work are the outstanding demonstrations of love.

As in the case of the patient in one of our hospitals in India, who inquired of the doctor how long she would live. When he said: "3 months if you stay in the hospital," she wanted to know how long if she did not stay.

The answer was: "2 or 3 weeks & you will suffer much."

Whereupon she said: "I am going home, I must tell my people about Jesus."

And she went & she did it.

That was sheer foolishness from the point of view of those who are selfish, but it was a real illustration of what a mighty love for God & for our neighbors the Holy Spirit supplies.

- Gospel Herald. (moreillustrations.com)

Mark 5:19 (NLT): But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”

“There are no easy steps to witnessing! No painless, unembarrassing methods! You must bring men to see that they are filthy sinners under the wrath of God who must flee to Christ for mercy. That is offensive. And there is no way to coat it with honey.” -  Walter J. Chantry.