HOW MUCH DO YOU WEAR?

A missionary at home on furlough was invited to a dinner at a great summer resort, where he met many women of prominence & position.

After dinner he went to his room & wrote a letter to his wife. He said:

"Dear Wife: I've had dinner at the great Hotel. The company was wonderful. I saw strange things today. Many women were present. There were some who wore, to my certain knowledge, one church, 40 organs & 20 libraries."

In his great longing for money to provide the gospel for hungering millions, he could not refrain from estimating the silks & diamonds of the guests at the dinner in terms of his people's need.

If God sends us money to send to perishing millions the good news of a Saviour from sin & we spend it in needless luxuries, what does He think of it?

- (moreillustrations.com)

Rom 14:12 (NET): "Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

"When we receive from God and hold on to what we have received selfishly, we die spiritually." - Zac Poonen.

MONEY OR SOULS?

Suppose someone were to offer you a $1000 for every soul you would earnestly try to lead to Christ, would you endeavor to lead any more souls to Him than you are endeavoring to do now?
 
Is it possible that you would attempt to do for money what you hesitate or shrink from doing now in obedience to God’s command?
 
Is your love of money stronger than your love of God or souls?
 
- (ministry127.com)
 
Phil 2:19-21 (NIV): “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon... I have no one else like him … For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
 
Let us return to the basic things of the Word of God and prayer and soul winning and revival. Let us pray, "O God, send a revival. Let it begin in me." -  Lee Roberson.
 

SERVING TO GIVE OR GET?

Selfish service is impressed with the “big deal.” True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.

Selfish service requires external rewards. True service rests contented in hiddenness.

Selfish service is highly concerned about results. True service is free of the need to calculate results.

Selfish service picks and chooses whom to serve. True service is indiscriminate in its ministry.

Selfish service is affected by moods and whims. True service ministers simply and purely.

- (ministry127.com)

Phi 2:3 (ERV): “In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves.”

“The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.” -  Billy Graham.

TIME

Time is as much a trusteeship as money & there are no capitalists.

We cannot "invest" it to use in the future, but we can, by grace, use it fruitfully now & have the blessing & results in the future, to the glory of God.

Each day is a sacred trust & never returns. Each hour is a privilege.

A wasted moment & a wasted coin are alike saddening to a believer.

- The Student of Scripture. (moreillustrations.com)

Ep 5:15-17 (WEB): “Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” -  Charles Wesley.

FORTUNE HUNTERS

Mary - "I've just heard of a case where a man married a girl on his deathbed so she could have his millions when he was gone. Could you love a girl like that?"

Jack - "That's just the kind of a girl I could love. What's her address?"

- (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 11:4 (GNT): “Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life.”

“He is a poor man who can only measure his wealth in dollars.” -  Woodrow Kroll.

Pro 11:28 (ESV): “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”

“Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal.” -  Rick Warren.

HANDLING CRITICISM

George Whitefield was a famed English evangelist in the 1700s. He led many meetings where hundreds of people come to Christ.

Yet for all the good he did, he was not without his critics. He very often received letters of criticism, mockery, or hateful correction.

Sometimes he would become discouraged by the letters, but he soon learned that the best response to a critic was openness & honesty.

After receiving a letter of personal attack, he wrote one simple reply to its sender:

“I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you & my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me.”

With Love in Christ.

George Whitefield.

- (ministry127.com)

“Since God intends to make you like Jesus, He will take you through the same experiences Jesus went through. That includes loneliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection, and many other problems.” -  Rick Warren.

1 Pet 3:9 (NIRV): “Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You will receive a blessing by doing this.”

GOD IS FAITHFUL

Spurgeon once said: "Sometimes God sends His love letters in black-edged envelopes."

God allows us to taste the bitterness of want & the desolation of bereavement. If you have lived many years, you have passed through the narrows.

We have all been there & it is not always easy to see the Divine control. It looks as if things have got out of hand & somehow or other we have been forgotten.

When there is no one at hand to say it to you, say to yourself: "God is faithful, who will not suffer the pain to exceed the measurement of my endurance."

- John MacDeath. (moreillustrations.com)

1 Cor 1:9 (NIV): “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“If God was faithful to you yesterday, you have reason to trust Him for tomorrow.” -  Woodrow Kroll.

“Spiritual advancement is measured by faithful obedience.” -  Watchman Nee.

TWO GREAT SPIRITUAL NEEDS

Joseph Parker as a young man used to debate in the mining fields of England with infidels & atheists.

An infidel once shouted at him, "What did Christ do for Stephen when he was stoned?"

Parker said the answer that was given him was like an inspiration from heaven. "He gave him grace to pray for those who stoned him."

Stephen had the mind of Christ; and hearing him pray for those who did him wrong at once recalls the prayer of Jesus himself, under like circumstances: "Father, forgive them."

- (moreillustrations.com)

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” -  C.S. Lewis.

Mat 6:14-15 (NET): “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”

“Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.” -  Billy Graham.

REAL JOY & HAPPINESS

A Russian countess accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior and was open about her testimony. The Tsar was displeased & threw her into prison. 

After 24 hours with the lowest level of Russian society, in the most miserable conditions imaginable, he ordered her brought into his presence. He smiled sardonically & said, “Well, are you ready now to renounce your silly faith & come back to the pleasures of the court?”

To his surprise, the countess smiled serenely & said, “I have known more real joy & happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.”

She found out what was really the easy way.

Submitted by Dr. R. B. Ouellette (ministry127.com)

Ps 84:10 (GNT): “One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.”

“If we do not have some knowledge by faith of the glory of Christ here and now, it means that we have no real desire for His presence in heaven.” -  John Owen.

THE ‘BENEFIT’ OF WORRY

An exasperated husband asked his wife, “Why are you always worrying when it doesn't do any good?”

She quickly piped back, “Oh yes it does! Ninety percent of the things I worry about never happen.”

- (ministry127.com)

“No one can pray and worry at the same time.” -  Max Lucado.

Neh 8:10 (AMP): “… And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”

“There is more joy in Jesus in 24 hours than there is in the world in 365 days. I have tried them both.” - R. A. Torrey.

TRIALS

Two men were once discussing why it is that you cannot see the stars by day. The stars are still there; the distance is not greater by day than by night; why, then, cannot these mighty lamps be seen by day?

One man maintained that they could be seen if one went far enough down in a well. The other denied the proposition but permitted himself to be lowered into the well.

After he had been lowered a certain distance, he was asked if he could see the stars, and said, "No."

Still farther down the same question was asked, with the same answer.

But when he had been lowered to a great depth, then, looking up toward the heavens, he said he was able to see the stars.

So to those who are willing to will for themselves the things which He hath willed for them, the deep well of adversity & trouble is a place whence they can see the stars of the spiritual heavens & know that in all & above all & through all is God & that GOD IS LOVE.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Js 1:2-4 (NIV): “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”              

 
“Every temptation is great or small according as the man is.” -  Jeremy Taylor.

“It is always darkest just before the day dawneth.” - Thomas Fuller. 

A 'TESTIMONY'

The grateful woman on the farm in Arkansas wrote to the vendors of the patent medicine:

"Four weeks ago I was so run down that I could not spank the baby. After taking three bottles of your Elegant Elixir, I am now able to thrash my husband in addition to my other housework. God bless you!"

- (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 1:22 &33 (GNT):“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? … But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”

“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.

BELIEVE AND WAIT

A life insurance leaflet contains the following:

A father & a girl of 10 yrs, both good swimmers, entered the waters of the Atlantic at a New Jersey seashore resort a few summers ago.

When some distance from shore they became separated & the father realized they were being carried out to sea by the tide. He called out to his daughter: "Mary, I am going to shore for help. If you get tired, turn on your back; you can float all day on your back. I'll come back for you."

Before long many searchers in boats were scurrying over the face of the water hunting for one small girl, while hundreds of people to whom the news had spread waited anxiously on shore.

It was 4 hours before they found her, far from land. She was calmly floating on her back & not at all frightened. Cheers & tears of joy & relief greeted the rescuers with their precious burden as they came to land.

The child took it calmly. She said, "He said he would come for me & that I could float all day, so I swam & floated, because I knew he would come."

May such faith in our Heavenly Father sustain us in those hours in which we must swim & float & wait!

- Gospel Chimes. (moreillustrations.com)

Lord Jesus said: “After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am.” (John 14:3 ERV)

“I will charge my soul to believe and wait for Him, and will follow His providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it.” -  Samuel Rutherford.

GOD ALWAYS WATCHES

An old lady in England had stood the bombings with amazing grit during WWII. When asked the secret of her fortitude amidst such frightful danger, she replied:

“Well, every night I say my prayers & then I remember what the pastor told us, God is always watching. With that thought, I go to sleep. After all, there’s no need for two of us to lie awake.”

- The Christian Century. (moreillustrations.com)

Ps 121:5 (NLT): “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.”

Ps 145:20 (VOICE): “All of you who love God - He will watch out for you, but total destruction is around the corner for all the wicked.”

FREEDOM FROM SIN

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. The moment it went into effect on January 1, 1863, every slave living in the Confederacy was legally free.

But until they knew of their freedom, the legal fact had no impact on their lives.

In fact, Union soldiers carried hundreds of thousands of copies of the proclamation & passed them out as they made their way through the South during the war.

Christ has set us free from power of sin. We must recognize that fact & live like it.

Source: ‘The Pulling Down of Strongholds’, R.B. Ouellette (ministry127.com)

Gal 5:1 (GNT): “Freedom is what we have - Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.”

“To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God, is the sweetest freedom in the world.” -  Thomas Watson.

“If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are free.” -  D.L. Moody.

WORRY!

Said the robin to the sparrow,

"I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about, and worry so?"

Said the sparrow to the robin,

"Friend, I think that it must be

They have no Heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me."

- Elizabeth Cheyney (moreillustrations.com)

               

Mat 10:29 - 31 (HCSB): “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.  So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

“Worry is like a rocking chair-it keeps you moving but doesn't get you anywhere. - Corrie Ten Boom.

ADVICE

Her exalted rank did not give Queen Victoria immunity from the trials of a grandmother.

One of her grandsons, whose recklessness in spending money provoked her strong disapproval, wrote to the 

Queen reminding her of his approaching birthday & delicately suggesting that money would be the most acceptable gift.

In her own hand she answered, sternly reproving the youth for the sin of extravagance & urging upon him the practice of economy.

His reply staggered her:

"Dear Grandma, thank you for your kind letter of advice. I have sold the same for five pounds."

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Many receive advice, only the wise profit by it.” - Publius Syrus.

Pro 19:20 (GW): “Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your life.”

“The true secret in giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not and never persist in trying to set people right.” Hannah Whitall Smith, Evangelist.

WHAT PRAYER DOES – A HYMN

What various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,

But wishes to be often there?

Prayer makes the darken’d cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian’s armour bright;

And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

- William Cowper (ministry127.com)

Mat 17:21 (EXB):  That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.”

“Unless I had the spirit of prayer, I could do nothing.” -  Charles Finney.

TRUST GOD’S HEART

Billy Bray, when he heard someone telling a long story of troubles & sorrows endured, exclaimed:

"I've had my trials & troubles. The Lord has given me both vinegar & honey, but He has given me the vinegar with a teaspoon & the honey with a bucket."

- Robert G. Lee, Moody Monthly (moreillustrations.com)

“Difficulties and obstacles are God's challenges to faith. When hindrances confront us in the path of duty, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith to fill with the fullness and all-sufficiency of Jesus.” - A.B. Simpson.

Ps 34:19 (NKJV): “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

“We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart.” -  Charles Spurgeon.             

ANXIETY ABOUT THE FUTURE

Bishop Taylor Smith used to write the following in his autograph books:

“The worried cow would have lived till now

If she had saved her breath;

But she feared her hay wouldn't last all day,

And she mooed herself to death.”

- (moreillustrations.com)             

“What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?” -  Thomas a Kempis.

Mat 6:31-34 (CEV): “Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.”

“Prayer is an acknowledgment of faith; worry is a denial of faith.” – Selected.

               

TOO LATE

In World War 1, an English soldier watched in horror when his lifelong friend fell under gunfire. All the soldiers had to retreat. The soldier asked permission from the lieutenant to fetch his friend from the no-mans-land.

The lieutenant agreed but added: "It is hardly worth it. Your friend is probably dead & you may die too."

The soldier did not care about the warning & miraculously he did reach his friend, lifted him to his shoulders & stumbled back. He was wounded in the process.

The lieutenant helped them to safety & noticed the soldier's friend was already dead.

"I am sorry for your friend - but I told you it was not worth it. Your friend is dead & now you are also seriously wounded."

"I have to disagree with you, Sir. It was worth it", the soldier answered.

"What do you mean?" the lieutenant wondered.

"It was worth it", the soldier repeated. "When I got to my friend, he was still alive & said ‘Jim, I knew you would never leave me.’"

- (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.in)

“There's no use doing a kindness if you do it a day too late.” -  Charles Kingsley.

Gal 6:10 (VOICE): “So seize any opportunity the Lord gives you to do good things and be a blessing to everyone.…”

        

BACKSLIDING

Among the signs of backsliding are indifference to prayer and self-examination; trifling or unprofitable conversation; neglect of public worship; shunning the people of God; association with the world; thinking lightly of sin; neglect of the Bible; and often gross immorality.

- C. Buck (moreillustrations.com)

Heb 6:4-6 (NHEB): "For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame."

"Backsliding, generally first begins with neglect of private prayer." -  J.C. Ryle.
 

ROCK OF AGES

A Welsh lady, when she lay dying, was visited by her minister. He said to her, “Sister, are you sinking?”

She answered him not a word, but looked at him with incredulous eye. He repeated the question, “Sister, are you sinking?”

She looked at him again as if she could not believe he would ask such a question.

At last, rising a little in her bed, she said, “Sinking! Sinking! Did you ever know a sinner to sink through a rock? If I had been standing on the sand, I might sink; but thank God, I'm on the Rock of Ages, and there is no sinking there.”

- C. H. Spurgeon (moreillustrations.com)

Ps 40:2 (WEB): “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.”

“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.

GIVING

The story is told of a farmer who was known for his generous giving & whose friends could not understand how he could give so much & yet remain so prosperous.

One day a spokesman for his friends said: “We cannot understand you. You give far more than any of the rest of us & yet you always seem to have more to give.”

“Oh, that is easy to explain,” the farmer said. “I keep shoveling into God's bin & God keeps shoveling back into mine & God has the bigger shovel.”

- Dr. Herbert Lockyer (moreillustrations.com)

Luke 6:38 (ERV): “Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands - more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

“God has a way of giving by the cartloads to those who give away by shovelfuls.” -  Charles Spurgeon.

WAKE UP!

At night as Dr. Horatius Bonar retired to rest, his last action before he laid down to sleep was to draw aside the curtain & looking up into the starry sky, say: "Perhaps tonight, Lord?"

In the morning, as he arose, his first movement was to raise the curtain & looking out upon the gray dawn, remark: "Perhaps today, Lord?"

- The Dawn. (moreillustrations.com)

“We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.” -  Adrian Rogers.

Rom 13:11 (TLB): “Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.”