GRATITUDE

Dean Swift thought ill of the education given him by a charitable uncle. "Yes," he once said when asked if his uncle had not educated him, "he gave me the education of a dog."

"And you," replied his interlocutor, "have not the gratitude of a dog."

- (moreillustrations.com)

“It is easy to be grateful for a bonus; it is character to be grateful for a salary.” -  Jack Hyles.

1 Sam 12:24 (GW): “Fear the Lord, and serve him sincerely. Consider the great things he did for you.”

“Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart.” -  George Herbert.

HAPPINESS

It has been said that Happiness consists of three things:- 

i.              Something to love.

ii.             Something to do.

iii.            Something to hope for. 

For the believer, Christ is the One he loves; His service is the something he has to do: and His approval & eternal companionship is what he hopes for.

- Scripture Truth (moreillustrations.com)

Ps 112:1 (GNT): “Praise the Lord! Happy is the person who honors the Lord, who takes pleasure in obeying his commands.”

“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.

“If man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God?” -  Blaise Pascal.

CONSECRATION

“Will you please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?”

Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied:

“It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

- (ministry127.com)

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow.” (Josh 3:5 CSB)

“It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.” -  Phillips Brooks.

“The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” -  Billy Graham.

FREEDOM & LIFE

Many young people starting out in life believe that freedom means the right to do the things that they want to do, regardless of whether or not that right interferes with the rights & comforts of others.

They mistake license for freedom; they are spiritually nearsighted. They want to be free to see life. This is a noble desire, but it is too often misunderstood & turned in the wrong direction.

They should know that living does not consist in the dissipation of life but in the conservation of life.

-You Magazine (moreillustrations.com)

“Do you find life too difficult for you? So did we, but not now, with the amplitudes of grace there are for us in Jesus Christ, it grows satisfying and successful and exciting beyond measure, becomes another and a richer thing.” -  A.J. Gossip.

Ecc 12:13- 14 (GNT): “After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.  God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.”

THE SPIRIT BEFORE & AFTER PENTECOST

Now let me suggest an analogy to illustrate the experience of the Spirit before & after Pentecost. 

Picture a huge dam for hydroelectric power under construction, like the Aswan High Dam on the Nile, 375 feet high & 11,000 feet across. Egypt's President announced the plan for construction in 1953. The dam was completed in 1970 & in 1971 there was a grand dedication ceremony & the 12 turbines with their ten billion kilowatt-hour capacity were unleashed with enough power to light every city in Egypt.

During the long period of construction, the Nile River wasn't completely stopped. Even as the reservoir was filling, part of the river was allowed to flow past. The country folk downstream depended on it. They drank it, washed in it, watered their crops & turned their mill-wheels. It was their life. But on the day when the reservoir poured through the turbines, a power was unleashed that brought possibilities they had only dreamed of.

Well, Pentecost is like the opening of the Aswan High Dam. Before Pentecost, the river of God's Spirit blessed the people of Israel & was their very life. But after Pentecost, the power of the Spirit spread out to light the whole world. None of the benefits enjoyed in the pre-Pentecostal days were taken away. But much more than ten billion kilowatts were added to enable the church to take the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to every tongue & tribe & nation.

- John Piper (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.com)

Ep 5:18 (NLT): “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

LAZINESS & BACKSLIDING

An old mountaineer & his wife were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening taking life easy.

After a long silence, the wife said: "Jed, I think it's raining. Why don't you get up & go outside & see?"

The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a while, sighed & then said, "Aw, Ma, why don't we just call in the dog & see if he's wet."

That's what you call the height of laziness. And I wouldn't want to say that we are downright lazy, but we all have a lazy streak in us.

And laziness is a faith killer.

If you're too lazy to open & read your Bible...

If you're too lazy to pray & be thankful to God...

If you're too lazy to memorize & meditate scriptures...

Read this: You Are In A Big Trouble!

Laziness is a good indicator that you're slipping away from the hands of God.

- (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.com)

“Taking it easy is often the prelude to backsliding.” -  Vance Havner.

Heb 6:12 (GNT): “We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.”

HONESTY

A Chinese who had newly come to the faith, was being tempted by one of his countrymen to cheat. Upon his refusal, his tempter asked why.

"Because three will know that I cheated," replied the native Christian. "You will know, I will know & Heaven will know."

And this applies to all lands. All things are naked & open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do

- (moreillustrations.com)

2 Chro 16:9 (GNT): “The Lord keeps close watch over the whole world, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him.”

“More depends on my walk than talk.” -  D.L. Moody.

TIME

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just when the hands will stop

- At late or early hour.

Now is the only time you own;

So live, love, toil with a will;

Do not depend upon tomorrow, for

The clock may then be still.

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

“The present is the only time in which any duty may be done or grace received.” -  C.S. Lewis.

Heb 5:12 (ISV): “In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of God’s word. You have become people who need milk instead of solid food.”

PRAYER OF FAITH

Dr. Thomas N. Carter, the ex-convict, tells a thrilling story of the faith of his mother who followed him with her prayers for many years until she listened to him preach the gospel in answer to her prayer.

On one occasion, while he was in prison, his mother received a telegram from the prison stating that her son was dead & asked what she wanted done with his body.

His mother was stunned at receipt of the telegram for a few minutes, retired to her prayer closet after instructing others in the house not to disturb her. She got her Bible & opening it, spread it before her, with the telegram beside it.

"Oh, God," she began, "I have believed the promise you gave me in your Word, that I would live to see Tom saved & preach the Gospel & now a telegram comes saying he is dead. Lord, which is true, this telegram or your Word?"

When she rose from her knees, having won the victory, she wired the prison:

"There must be some mistake. My boy is not dead."

And there was a mistake. Tom Carter lived & was recently in our church preaching, with his mother seated on the platform.

- Sunday School Times. (moreillustrations.com)

Mk 11:24 (ISV): “That is why I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

“Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” -  Augustine.     

HUNGER FOR GOD!

The French have a proverb, which states:

“A good meal ought to begin with hunger.”

It is hard to enjoy a meal when you are not yet hungry. But, when you are hungry, anything tastes good.

If we approach the Word with a hunger to be satisfied, we will be satisfied every time.

Effective worship begins with a hunger for God.

Source: 'The Facts on File', Martin Manser (ministry127.com)

Mat 5:6 (GNT): “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!”

“The only lasting and fully satisfying joys for any man lie on the other side of a cross.” -  Walter J. Chantry.

GOD IS FAITHFUL

I suppose I am something like Mr. Cecil when he was a boy.
 
His father once told him to wait in a gateway till he came back & the father being very busy went about the city & amid his numerous cases & engagements, forgot the boy.
 
Night came on & at last, when the father reached home, there was a great inquiry as to where Richard was.  The father said: "Dear me! I left him in the morning standing under such & such a gateway & I told him to stay there till I came for him. I should not wonder but that he is there now."
 
So they went & there they found him.
 
Such an example of simple childish faithfulness is no disgrace to emulate.
 
- Gospel Herald. (moreillustrations.com)
 
“If God was faithful to you yesterday, you have reason to trust Him for tomorrow.” -  Woodrow Kroll.
 
Heb 10:23 (EHV): “Let us hold on firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”
 

WORK HARD

A famous evangelist was on one occasion trying to point out to a group of miners the care & bounty with which God had endowed the earth.

"Look at your own occupation," he said. "Isn't it wonderful how God's foresight has enabled us to get fuel & power from the earth?"

"That's quite right, sir," replied one of the men, "but I wish He had put it nearer the top."

Is not this the spirit of many people today?

They realize the goodness of God, no doubt; but wish He did not ask them to do so much.

God gave the Israelites manna, but did not throw it into their tents; they had to gather it. He sends us the harvest year by year, but we must reap it.

- Christian Herald. (moreillustrations.com)

“Read the Bible. Work hard and honestly. And don't complain.” -  Billy Graham.

Col 3:23 (GNT): “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”

“Can we be casual in the work of God - casual when the house is on fire, and people in danger of being burned?” -  Duncan Campbell.

SACRIFICE

Dan Crawford, the Brethren missionary pioneer to Africa, was but a lad of 19 when he left for Africa, an only son, following the path forged by David Livingstone.

In the little company at the Glasgow station stood his mother. When a friend spoke a word of comfort, she replied, “He spared not His Son.”

22 years passed before she saw him again.

Yes, 22 years while he toiled in Africa, without a furlough. He had buried his son & there, amid loneliness indescribable, fever-stricken again & again, time after time nigh unto death, he toiled & suffered. At 56 he died.

Rom 8:32 (NIRV): “God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won’t he also freely give us everything else?”

- Oswald J. Smith (moreillustrations.com)

“If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

- C.T. Studd.

“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.” -  David Livingstone.

 

TEACHER

A noted writer once said that the best definition of education is that which remains in your mind after everything you have been taught has been forgotten.

What remains in many a student's mind is something about the teacher—some trick of mind, some way of thought, some gesture, some view that he has towards life.

Let us put it this way: some life style. And the life style of the teacher is something that can be communicated to the student.

- Max Lerner (moreillustrations.com)

Tit 2:7 (NOG): “Always set an example by doing good things. When you teach, be an example of moral purity and dignity.”

“A wisely chosen illustration is almost essential to fasten the truth upon the ordinary mind, and no teacher can afford to neglect this part of his preparation.” - Howard Crosby.

  

THE MAKING OF A MISSIONARY

John saw some ragged boys & invited them to Sunday school. One said that he would go, but he had no coat.

John gave him his coat & went in, with him, without one.

Years afterward a teacher of a Bible class told the story. The man said:

"I was that boy & Dr. John G. Paton, the now famous missionary, gave me his coat.”

- The Pentecostal Herald. (moreillustrations.com)

“I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.” – Paul (1 Cor 9:22 NET)

“I'd rather have people hate me with the knowledge that I tried to save them.” - Keith Green.

   

THE WORD OF GOD

Spurgeon went one day into Albert Hall, where he was to preach on the coming Sabbath. In order to test out the hall with his voice, he mounted the platform & repeated the text:

"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

Not long afterward he received word that the repetition of that text had borne rich fruit.

A painter, at work in some part of the great hall, was startled when he heard the voice of Spurgeon repeating in the empty hall that great sentence of John's.

The words so impressed him that he was convicted & brought to Christ.

- (moreillustrations.com)

“I believe the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover.” -  Billy Sunday.

Heb 4:12 (ESV): “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

“An honest heart is open to the Word.” -  A.W. Pink.

THE TRUTH

On the great rocks & crags of the California coast near Monterey, one can see cedars of Lebanon growing in the very midst of the rock.

In some way the seed found a place in the rock and, with nature's mighty & mysterious power of germination & growth, drove its way straight up & through the heart of the rock until it found the sun & the light & waved its branches over the surges of the Pacific.

So is the power of one single seed of divine truth.

- (moreillustrations.com)

But 2 Tim 4:3 (NLV) says: “The time will come when people will not listen to the truth. They will look for teachers who will tell them only what they want to hear.”

“It is easier to find a score of men wise enough to discover the truth than to find one bold enough, in the face of opposition, to stand up for it.” -  A.A. Hodge.