Grace Gems

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The cross of popular evangelicalism!

(A.W. Tozer)

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

The cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament.

It is, rather--a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity.

The old cross slew men--the new cross entertains them.

The old cross humbled men--the new cross amuses them.

The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh--the new cross encourages it.

The old cross brought tears and blood--the new cross brings laughter.

The flesh, smiling and confident, preaches and sings about the cross. Before that cross it bows, and toward that cross it points with carefully staged histrionics--but upon that cross it will not die, and the reproach of that cross, it stubbornly refuses to bear.

We must do something about the cross, and only one of two things we can do--flee from it, or die upon it.

The man who takes up the cross no longer controls his destiny--he lost control, when he picked up his cross. That cross immediately became to him an all-absorbing interest, an overwhelming passion. No matter what he may desire to do, there is but one thing he can do--that is, move on toward the place of crucifixion!

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!" Galatians 6:14

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The Lord is my Shepherd--I shall not want!

("Every Day!" 1872)

"The Lord is my Shepherd--I shall not want!" Psalm 23:1

"I shall not want!" Surely not! He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep; and if He has loved me, and given Himself for me--then what will He withhold?

Oh that I knew Him better, and trusted Him as He deserves! Then I would be kept quiet from fear of evil, and be ever assured that He will supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory.

Do I need guidance? The Good Shepherd goes before His sheep--He instructs and teaches us in the way we should go.

Do I wander--and need to be reclaimed? He seeks and finds His straying ones, "He restores my soul, and leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Am I wounded? He binds up my wounds, and heals me.

Do I need rest and refreshment? "He makes me to lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside the still waters."

Do I need encouragement? "His rod and His staff, they comfort me."

Do I need provision? "He spreads a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

My Shepherd is infinitely wise and kind and gracious. Surely then, "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!"

"The Lord my Shepherd is,
 I shall be well supplied;
 Since He is mine, and I am His,
 What can I want beside?"

[nChrist]

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A life once spent, is irrevocable

(Adoniram Judson)

Of how much real happiness we cheat our souls--by preferring a trifle to God! We have a general intention of living a consecrated life--but we intend to begin tomorrow or next year. For the present moment, we prefer living for our trinkets, and say, "A little more sleep, a little more slumber." Well, a little more sleep--and we shall sleep in the grave! A few more days--and our work will be done. And when it is once done, it is done to all eternity.

A life once spent, is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity.
If it is marked with sins--the marks will be indelible.
If it has been a useless life--it can never be improved.
Such it will stand forever and ever.

The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it--it will exhibit forever. It will always remain true--that such a day was spent in such a manner. Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny. No day will lose its share of influence in determining where our place shall be in Heaven.

How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It will then be too late to mend its appearance.

It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.

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The great woe is not the presence of these religious toys and trifles

(A.W. Tozer)

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty! Zechariah 4:6

You know, the Church started out with a Bible, then it got a hymnbook, and for years that was it--a Bible and a hymnbook. The average church now certainly wouldn't be able to operate on just a hymnbook and the Bible. Now we have to have all kinds of religious bunk. A lot of people couldn't serve God at all without at least a vanload of equipment to keep them happy.

Some of these attractions that we have to win people and keep them coming may be fine, or they may be cheap. They may be elevated, or they may be degrading. They may be artistic, or they may be coarse--it all depends upon who is running the show! But the Holy Spirit is not the center of attraction, and the Lord is not the one who is in charge. We bring in all sorts of anti-Scriptural and unscriptural claptrap to keep the people happy and keep them coming.

As I see it, the great woe is not the presence of these religious toys and trifles--but the fact that they have become a necessity, and the presence of the Eternal Spirit is not in our midst!

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That my dear friend, is about the end of any nation!

(Adrian Rogers)

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work--he shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy--they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ--to settle down and earn the bread they eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom--by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.

What one person receives, without working for--another person must work for, without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody--anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them; and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for--that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation!

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

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Have you ever wondered what a church full of Pharisees would be like?

(Adrian Rogers)

Have you ever wondered what a church full of Pharisees would be like?
   1. They would all attend every service.
   2. They would all tithe.
   3. They would all work in the church.
   4. They would all go to Hell!

"Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" Matthew 23:15

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Short pithy quotes from Adrian Rogers

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Our sins were the nails that nailed Him to that tree--and our hard hearts were the hammers that drove those nails!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Reputation is what others think about you.
Character is what God knows about you.

    ~  ~  ~  ~

If you live for this world--then you are in the junk business. It's all just premature junk!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Some people go to to Hell--with a chest full of Sunday school attendance pins!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Anything you love more, fear more, serve more, or value more than God--is your idol!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

To be almost saved--is to be totally lost!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

The devil would just as soon send you to Hell from the pew--as from the gutter!

    ~  ~  ~  ~

God is sovereign--so live confidently.
God is holy--so live reverently.

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Where God leads--He feeds.
Where God directs--He protects.
Where God guides--He provides.

[nChrist]

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From Grace Gems:
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Why the Cross?

(Octavius Winslow)

True sanctification is a daily mortification of the root of sin in the heart--the continual destruction of the principle.
What is your predominant sin? Lay the axe at its root!
Seek its death and destruction--or it will be death and destruction to you, as long as it prevails.

One sight of a crucified Savior imparted by the Holy Spirit, will effectually weaken the power of indwelling sin--more than all other means combined.

O the might of the Cross!
O the virtue of the blood!
O the power of the grace of Jesus--to crucify, cleanse, and subdue our iniquities!

While the Cross is a comforting truth--it is also a sanctifying truth.

Why the Cross?

To evince the exceeding hatefulness of sin, and to show that nothing short of such a stupendous sacrifice could remove sin consistently with the glory of the Divine nature, and the honor of the Divine government.

When the mind is diverted from the Cross--sin appears to be a trifle. It can be . . .
  looked at without indignation,
  tampered with without fear,
  committed without hesitation,
  persisted in without remorse,
  gloried in without shame,
  confessed without sorrow.

But when Divine justice is seen drinking the very heart's blood of God's only Son, in order to quench its infinite thirst for satisfaction; when Jesus is seen in His humiliation, suffering, and death--all with the design of pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin--then how fearful a thing does it seem to sin against this holy Lord God! How base, how ungrateful, does our sin appear--in view of love so amazing, of grace so rich, and of glory so great!

Cultivate a constant, an ardent thirst for holiness. Do not be discouraged if the more intensely the desire for sanctification rises--the deeper and darker is the revelation of the heart's hidden evil. The one is often a consequence of the other. The struggle may be painful, the battle may be strong--but the result is certain, and will be a glorious victory--victory through the blood of the Lamb!

[nChrist]

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From Grace Gems:
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Short pithy quotes from A.W. Tozer

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Among the plastic saints of our times--Jesus has to do all the dying.
All we want, is to hear another sermon about His dying!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

It is no longer either dangerous or costly to be a Christian!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Some Christians have taken all the justice, judgment and hatred of sin out of the nature of God--and have nothing left but a soft god.

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Let us start reading our Bibles with the thought that God means exactly what He says!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The most godly Christian is the one who knows himself best.
No one who knows himself, will believe that he deserves anything better than Hell.

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

God's gifts often take the place of God Himself--and the whole course of the man's life is upset by the monstrous substitution!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God--and the Church is famishing for lack of His presence!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Anyone who wishes to check on his true spiritual condition may do so--by noting what his voluntary thoughts have been over the last hours or days.

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

We have learned to live with unholiness in our churches--and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing.

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Brethren, is not this the very cream of Heaven!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!" 1 John 3:2

Here we have seen Jesus by faith in such a way that we have beheld our burdens laid on Him, and our iniquities carried by Him into the wilderness--where, if they are sought for, they shall not be found. We have seen enough of Jesus to know that "He is altogether lovely." We can say of Him, that He "is all my salvation, and all my desire." Sometimes, when He opens the lattice, and shows Himself through those windows of agate, at the Lord's Supper--the King's beauty has entranced us even to our heart's ravishment. Yet all that we have ever seen of Him, is somewhat like the report which the Queen of Sheba had of Solomon's wisdom. When we once get to the court of the Great King, we shall declare that the half has not been told to us! "I myself will see Him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:27

Brethren, is not this the very cream of Heaven!

There have been many suggestions of what we shall do in Heaven, and what we shall enjoy, but they all seem to me to be wide of the mark compared with this one--that we shall be with Jesus, be like Him, and shall behold His glory!

Oh, to see the feet that were nailed, and to touch the hands that were pierced, and to look upon the head that wore the thorns--and to bow before Him who is ineffable love, unspeakable condescension, infinite tenderness! Oh, to bow before Him, and to kiss that blessed face! Jesus, what better do we want than to see You, and be with You forever!

The streets of gold will have small attraction to us, and the harps of angels will but slightly enchant us--compared with the King in the midst of the throne! He it is who shall . . .
  rivet our gaze,
  absorb our thoughts,
  enchain our affections, and
  move all our sacred passions to their highest pitch of celestial ardor.

We shall see Jesus!

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The Christian's compass and chart, by which he is steered safely over the tempestuous ocean of life!

(William Nicholson, "God's Word, a Preservative Prom Sin" 1862)

"Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11

The Psalmist deposited the precepts and promises of God in his heart, and proved their value and efficiency . . .
  to preserve him from sin,
  to comfort him in trouble, and
  to cheer him in a dying hour.

Just so, Christians must "let the word of Christ dwell in them richly, in all wisdom"--which will preserve them from sin, and make them wise unto salvation.

The Word must be deposited in our hearts, woven into our natures--by carefully reading and meditating upon it. "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Joshua 1:8

The Word is the perpetual standard of all moral excellence. All its precepts tend to purity.

Its doctrines present the most powerful motives against sin.

When the Christian looks at the sufferings and death of the Redeemer . . .
  in His intense agony,
  in His bloody sweat,
  in His transfixing on the cross,
  in the desertion of His Father,
  in the endurance of the penalty of sin--
he sees in all these complicated and unparalleled sorrows, "the exceeding sinfulness of sin!"

Why is he redeemed? "Christ gave Himself for us--to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good!" Titus 2:14

Why is he regenerated? "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Why is he adopted into God's family? But to bear the image of Him who adopts.

What is the tendency of all the doctrines of grace which he has received? "For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age!" Titus 2:11-12

Why is he preserved? "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Thessalonians 5:23. "But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation!" Colossians 1:22

Above all, when he contemplates the character of his Savior . . .
  His ardent love,
  His ineffable meekness,
  His profound humility, and
  His unexampled obedience--
he perceives such a bright constellation of virtues, that he is dazzled by their splendor, and longs and prays to be impressed with His image and likeness.

Thus the Word of God is hidden in his heart . . .
  as his counselor,
  as his guide,
  as his pattern!

The Word of God is the Christian's compass and chart, by which he is steered safely over the tempestuous ocean of life!

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And scarcely anyone appears to care!

(A.W. Tozer)

The only power God recognizes in His Church, is the power of His Spirit. Whereas the only power actually recognized today by the majority of evangelicals, is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of the Spirit--while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs by the power of trained intellect. Bright personality, has taken the place of the divine influence. But only what is done through the Eternal Spirit, will abide eternally.

For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was:
  a device for wasting time,
  a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience,
  a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability.
But of late she appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god entertainment--she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his power.

Christianity is so entangled with the world, that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere!

Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New Testament standard.
Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
Our religious mood is social, instead of spiritual.
We have lost the art of worship.
We are not producing saints.
Our models are successful business men, celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the modern advertiser.
Our homes have been turned into theaters.
Our literature is shallow, and our hymnody borders on sacrilege.
And scarcely anyone appears to care!

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I will uphold you with My victorious right hand!

("Every Day!" Author unknown, 1872)

"Having obtained help from God--I continue until this day." Acts 26:22

This is the testimony of the great apostle of the Gentiles. Many were the perils to which he was exposed, and many were the hardships which he endured--but he was borne up and carried through them all, by the help of God his Savior.

Just so, He who was the Helper of the great apostle--is the Helper of the feeblest child in His family, or the weakest lamb in His flock.

He is your Helper, beloved Christian reader! He who has redeemed you, not with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with His precious blood--will assuredly afford you seasonable aid. Look then to Him, in the discharge of your daily duties--for all needful wisdom and strength.

In domestic cares and trials--remember that your Helper is near.

In every hour of weakness and sorrow--cast yourself on His sustaining grace.

In the hour of your extremity, when human help avails nothing--then cling to Him, and listen to Him as He says,
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you!
 Do not be discouraged, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you and help you.
 I will uphold you with My victorious right hand!" Isaiah 41:10

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From Grace Gems:
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If Jesus had not been their Savior, their Shepherd, and their Shield!

(John Newton)

The gracious purposes to which the Lord makes the sense and feeling of our depravity subservient, are manifold.

Hereby His own power, wisdom, faithfulness and love--are more signally displayed.

His power is displayed--in maintaining His own work in the midst of such opposition, like a spark burning in the water, or a bush unconsumed in the flames.

His wisdom is displayed in defeating and controlling all the devices which Satan--who, from his knowledge of the evil of our nature, is encouraged to practice his wily arts against us.

The unchangeableness of the Lord's love, and the riches of His mercy, are likewise more illustrated, by the multiplied pardons He bestows upon His people--than if they needed no forgiveness at all.

Hereby the Lord Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul; all boasting is effectually excluded; and the glory of a full and free salvation is ascribed to Him alone.

After a long experience of their own deceitful hearts, after repeated proofs of their weakness, willfulness, ingratitude, and insensibility--they find that none of these things can separate them from the love of God--and Jesus becomes more and more precious to their souls. They love much--because much has been forgiven them.

They dare not, they will not ascribe anything to themselves, but are glad to acknowledge that they would have perished a thousand times over--if Jesus had not been their Savior, their Shepherd, and their Shield.
When they were wandering--He brought them back.
When they were fallen--He raised them.
When they were wounded--He healed them.
When they were fainting--He revived them.

In a word, some of the clearest proofs they have had of His excellence, have been occasioned by the mortifying proofs they have had of their own vileness. They would not have known so much of Him--if they had not known so much of themselves!

These are some of the advantages and good fruits which the Lord enables us to obtain from that bitter root, indwelling sin.

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This is the God whom we adore!

(Letters of John Newton)

"I know that the Lord is great--that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases Him--in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:5-6

God rules all! And though He is concealed by a veil of second causes from common eyes, so that they can perceive only the means, instruments, and contingencies by which He works, and therefore think He does nothing; yet, in reality, He does all according to His own counsel and pleasure, in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.

Who can enumerate all the beings and events which are . . .
  incessantly before His eye,
  adjusted by His wisdom,
  dependent on His will,
  and regulated by His power!

If we consider the heavens, the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars which He has ordained; if we call in the assistance of astronomers to help us in forming a conception of the number, distances, magnitudes, and motions of the heavenly bodies--the more we search, the more we shall be confirmed that these are but a small portion of His ways! Without His continual energy upholding them--they would rush into confusion, or sink into nothing! They are all dependent upon His power, and obedient to His command.

To come nearer home, and to speak of what seems more suited to our scanty apprehensions--still we may be lost in wonder. With respect to mankind, He reigns with uncontrolled dominion over every kingdom, family and individual. Before this blessed and only Potentate, all the nations of the earth are but as the dust upon the balance, and the small drop of a bucket--and might be thought (if compared with the immensity of His works) scarcely worthy of His notice! Yet here He presides, pervades, provides, protects, and rules! All changes, successes, and disappointments--all that is memorable in the annals of history, all the risings and falls of empires, all the turns in human life--take place according to His sovereign plan!

In Him His creatures live, move, and have their being. From Him, is their food and preservation. The eyes of all are upon Him; what He gives, they gather--and can gather no more! And at His word they sink into the dust!

There is not . . .
  a worm which crawls upon the ground,
   or a flower which grows in the pathless wilderness,
   or a shell upon the sea-shore--
but bears the impress of His wisdom, power, and goodness!

He preserves man and beast, sustains the young lion in the forest, feeds the birds of the air, which have neither storehouse or barn, and adorns the insects and the flowers of the field with a beauty and elegance beyond all that can be found in the courts of kings!

All things serve Him, and are in His hands--as clay in the hands of the potter. Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!

This is the God whom we adore! This is He who invites us to lean upon His almighty arm, and promises to guide us with His unerring eye!