ENTICED BY HIS OWN DESIRE

A co-worker asked a friend why he got donuts if he is trying to diet. He said, “Well, I came around the corner where the donut shop was. I told God, if He wanted me to buy some donuts to have a parking spot in the front of the shop. On the eighth time around, there it was!”

- (ministry127.com)

Js 1:14 (CEB): “Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them.”

“The most likely man to go to hell is the man who has nothing to do on earth. Idle people tempt the devil to tempt them.” -  Charles Spurgeon.

“Temptation usually comes in through a door that has deliberately been left open.” -  Assorted Authors.

PROVIDENCE

At 32 years of age William Cowper passed through a great crisis in his life. He tried to end his life by taking laudanum. Then he hired a coach & was driven to the Thames, intending to throw himself into the river; but some power seemed to restrain him.

The next morning he fell upon a knife, but the blade broke & his life was saved. He then tried to hang himself & was cut down unconscious but still alive.

Then one morning, in a moment of strange cheerfulness, he took up his Bible & read a verse in the Letter to the Romans. In a moment he received strength to believe & rejoiced in the forgiving power of God.

Some years later, after he had passed through a rich spiritual experience & had written many beautiful hymns, Cowper sat down one day & summed up his faith in God's dealings with him, & with other men, in the great hymn on divine providence:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Eph 3:20 (CEB): “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.”

PRAYING WITH YOUR FAMILY

When Dr. Richard Halverson was the U.S. Senate chaplain, he spoke before a group of evangelicals who had expressed their anger about Congress’ inactivity on the subject of school prayer.

They were irritated that congress had not acted with a strong initiative to restore prayer in schools. To these who were seeking greater initiative from the government, Dr. Halverson asked, “How many of you have prayed with your children this month, outside of church?”

Nobody raised their hand. Spiritual initiative starts in the home, not on Capitol Hill.

From ‘The Law of Perfect Freedom’ by Michael Scott Horton (ministry127.com)

Mat 6:5-6 (CEV):  “When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.”

“Pray in your family daily, that yours may be in the number of the families who call upon God.” - Christopher Love.

THE EFFECT OF PROSPERITY

We read the following from ‘Kings in Shirtsleeves’ by William P. Barker:

"We are all caught in a trap. It goes like this: Our religion promotes the good character qualities of hard work, thrift & honesty; they usually mean that a man gets ahead; getting ahead involves making money; making money implies success & luxury; success & love of luxury can come between the man & God.

This means that you & I are put in a dangerous position. We are 'successful' people. We are reasonably 'well-off.' We are tempted to love our luxuries more than our Lord. Thus, our faith produces some dangerous possibilities.

For the material success that comes from our hard work & frugality & honesty is hard to control. In fact, it can lead us to wanting more & more, using others & forgetting God.”

- (moreillustrations.com)

“As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol.” - A.B. Simpson.

Phil 4:19 (ERV): “My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus.”

You say, "If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied." You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. - Charles Spurgeon.

EXPECTING THE RAPTURE!

We are to work while we wait for the rapture.

A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle & the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener & his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He asked, “By the way, when was the last time the owner was here?

“About ten years ago.” The gardener replied.

The visitor asked, “Then why do you keep the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?”

The gardener replied, “Because I’m expecting him to return.” 

“Is he coming next week?”

The gardener replied, “I don’t know when he is coming, but I am expecting him today.”

- (ministry127.com)

Rom 12:11 (ERV):  “As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him!”

“Fear God and work hard.” -  David Livingston.

The Martyrdom of Nicholas Ridley

In 1555, Dr. Nicholas Ridley was sentenced to be burned at the stake in England because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance & comfort.

Nicholas Ridley declined the offer saying, “I intend to go to bed & sleep as quietly tonight, as ever I did.”
Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord to meet his need.

Most of us will never face a trial of our faith that is quite that severe, yet all of us go through difficult times. During those times, we have the opportunity to fix our minds on God & receive His peace.

Isa 26:3 (NLT): “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

-From ‘Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’ by John Foxe. (ministry127.com)

“Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God's removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him.” - Charles H. Brent.

A FUNERAL SERVICE

In Waterbury, Connecticut, a few months ago an African evangelist exhorted a wailing audience, with fists milling, to clean living. In front of the platform in the African Methodist Church a casket was piled high with flowers.

The evangelist told the dead man had committed every sin. He was wicked & therefore he would go into eternal torment. He told of the horrors of hell & there were not a few hysterical cries from his listeners. The newspaper announcement said that the service was to be a funeral. Over the coffin the evangelist chanted no eulogy.

When the sermon was finished, the audience was invited to file past the casket & take one look at this horrible sinner. Each man & woman peered into the casket. The casket was empty. A mirror in the bottom reflected the face of every person who stared.

- Defender. (moreillustrations.com)

1 Cor 9:22 (ICB): “… I did this so that I could save some of them in any way possible.” – Paul.

“Every preacher, if he is saved, has this Great Commission. If you don't win souls, you have failed in your Christian life. No one is a good Christian who doesn't win souls. You are not doing the first things He said you were to do after you got baptized. Those who do not win souls are disobedient to the main command of Jesus Christ, and that is not a small matter.” - John R. Rice.