Grace Gems

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Pastoral admonitions


"Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12



"A preacher's life should be a commentary of his doctrine;
 his practice should be a counterpart of his sermons.
 Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life." Thomas Brooks



"We preach to people who must live forever . . .
   in Heaven, or Hell;
   with God, or devils;
   in an eternity of joy, or of torment!"
Thomas Doolittle



"Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16



"An over-attachment to human learning has been the very bane of vital, spiritual, experimental godliness!" John Newton



"The chief means for attaining wisdom and suitable gifts and graces for the Christian ministry, are the Holy Scriptures and prayer." John Newton



"A man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake--until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ!" Robert Murray M'Cheyne



"There is not a sermon which is heard, but it sets us nearer to Heaven or Hell!" John Preston



"The preaching of the Word is that lattice where Jesus looks forth and shows Himself to His saints." Thomas Watson



"Preaching is that ordinance of God, sanctified for the begetting of faith, for the opening of the understanding, and for the drawing of the will and affections to Christ." Richard Sibbes



"Sound doctrine and holy living are the marks of true pastors." J.C. Ryle



"The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words.
 Their tongues may persuade, but their lives command!" Thomas Brooks



"Preaching that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing." J.H. Jowett

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The sum of all progress in spiritual life is

(Thomas Moor)

The sum of all progress in spiritual life is . . .
  more of Christ in the mind, to better know Him;
  more of Christ in the heart, to better love Him, and to be more influenced by Him;
  more of Christ in the life, to better serve Him.

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Nevertheless I am continually with You!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
 Nevertheless I am continually with You!" Psalm 73:22-23

"Nevertheless"--as if notwithstanding all the foolishness and ignorance that David had just been confessing to God--not one atom the less was it true and certain that David was saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being constantly in God's presence was undoubtedly his. Fully conscious of his own lost estate and of the deceitfulness and vileness of his nature--yet by a glorious outburst of faith, he sings, "Nevertheless I am continually with You!"

Believer, endeavor in like spirit to say, "Nevertheless, since I belong to Christ, I am continually with God!"

I am continually upon His mind--He is always thinking of me for my good.

I am continually before His eye--the eye of the Lord never sleeps but is perpetually watching over my welfare.

I am continually in His hand--so that none will be able to pluck me out from it.

I am continually on His heart--worn there as a memorial, even as the high priest bore the names of the twelve tribes upon His heart forever.

"You always think of me, O God. You are always making providence work for my good. You have set me as a signet upon Your arm. Your love is as strong as death--many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it. You see me in Christ, and though in myself I am despised--You behold me as wearing Christ's garments of salvation and washed in His blood; and thus I stand accepted in Your presence. I am thus continually in Your favor. I am continually with You!"

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The more a Christian is tried

(Thomas Brooks, 1608-1680)

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word." Psalm 119:67

"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees." Psalm 119:71

By trials, God makes sin more hateful and the world less delightful.

God had but one Son without corruption--but He had none without afflictions!

By trials the Lord will make His people more and more conformable to the image of His Son.

Christ was much tried--He was often in the school of affliction; and the more a Christian is tried, the more into the likeness of Christ he will be transformed. The most afflicted Christians do most resemble Christ in meekness, lowliness, holiness, heavenliness, etc. The image of Christ is most fairly stamped upon afflicted souls.

Tried souls are much in looking up to Jesus--and every gracious look upon Christ changes the soul more and more into the image of Christ. Afflicted souls experience much of the comforts of Christ, and the more they experience the sweet of the comforts of Christ--the more they grow up into the likeness of Christ.

Afflictions are the tools by which the Father does more and more carve, form, and fashion His precious saints into the similitude and likeness of His dearest Son.

"I know, O LORD, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
 May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to your servant." Psalm 119:75-76

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An application to divine wealth, and a confession of personal inadequacy

(Charles Spurgeon)

"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help!" Psalm 18:6

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help!" Psalm 39:12

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very beneficial lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them, we would never know how poor we are. But a true prayer is . . .
  an inventory of our needs,
  a catalogue of our necessities,
  a revealing of our hidden poverty.

Prayer is both an application to divine wealth, and a confession of personal inadequacy.

The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always . . .
  empty in self, and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies;
  poor in self, and rich in Jesus;
  weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits.

Hence prayer, while it adores God, it lays the creature where he should be--in the very dust!

Prayer in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, is a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer.

Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets--that they may learn to mount above the clouds.
Prayer sends God's warriors forth to combat--with their sinews braced and their muscles firm.

Prayer . . .
  girds human weakness with divine strength,
  turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and
  gives the peace of God to troubled believers.

We have no idea what prayer can do!

We thank you great God, for the throne of grace, a choice proof of your marvelous loving-kindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

"Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

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Too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Godly sorrow works repentance." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Genuine mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters--but penitence never shows itself in sinners, unless divine grace works it in them. If you have one particle of real hatred for sin--then God must have given it to you, for human nature's thorns never produced a single fig! "That which is born of the flesh is flesh!"

True repentance has a distinct reference to the Savior. When we repent of sin, we must have one eye upon sin, and another upon the cross. It will be better still, if we fix both our eyes upon Christ, and see our transgressions only in the light of His dying love.

True sorrow for sin is eminently practical. No man may say he hates sin, if he lives in it. Repentance makes us see the evil of sin, not merely as a theory, but experimentally--just as a burnt child dreads the fire! We shall be as much afraid of sin, as a man who has lately been robbed is afraid of the thief upon the highway. And we shall shun sin, shun it in everything--not in great things only, but in little things, as men shun little vipers as well as great ones.

True mourning for sin will make us very jealous over our tongue, lest we should say a wrong word. We shall also be very watchful over our daily actions, lest in anything we offend God.

Each night we shall close the day with painful confessions of shortcomings--and each morning awaken with anxious prayers, that this day God would hold us up, that we may not sin against Him.

Sincere repentance is continual. Believers repent until their dying day. This sorrow for sin is not intermittent. Every other sorrow yields to time--but this dear sorrow grows with our growth. It is so sweet a bitter, that we thank God we are permitted to enjoy it until we enter our eternal rest!

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An ounce of heart-knowledge, is worth a ton of head-learning!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"I consider everything a loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8

Saving knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge. I must know Him experimentally in my own soul.

Saving knowledge of Christ will be an intelligent knowledge. I must know Him, not as I imagine Him to be, but as the Word reveals Him to be. I must know His natures, divine and human. I must know His offices, His attributes and His works. I must meditate upon Him until I am "able to comprehend how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is."

Saving knowledge of Christ will be an affectionate knowledge of Him. Indeed, if I know Him at all, I must love Him. An ounce of heart-knowledge, is worth a ton of head-learning!

Saving knowledge of Christ will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Savior, my mind and heart will be full to the brim—I shall feel that I have that which my spirit pants after. "No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again!"

Saving knowledge of Christ will be an ever-expanding knowledge. The more I know of my Beloved, the more I shall want to know. The higher I climb, the loftier will be the summits which invite my eager footsteps. As I get the more, I shall want the more. Like the miser's treasure, my gold will make me covet more.

To conclude, saving knowledge of Christ Jesus will be the most blessed knowledge. In fact, it will be so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, and doubts and sorrows! And it will, while I enjoy it, lift me above troubles—for it will fling about me the blessedness of the ever-living Savior, and gird me with the golden belt of His eternal joy.

Come, my soul, sit at Jesus' feet and learn of Him all this day!

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know . . .
  the hope to which He has called you,
  the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and
  His incomparably great power for us who believe!" Ephesians 1:17-19

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And will you murmur?

(Thomas Brooks, 1608-1680)

"How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, who murmur against Me?
 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me." Numbers 14:27

Is not Christ your treasure?
Is not Heaven your inheritance
--and will you murmur?

Have you not much in hand, and more in hope?
Have you not much in possession, but much more reserved in Heaven
--and will you murmur?

Has not God given you . . .
  a changed heart,
  a renewed nature,
  a sanctified soul
--and will you murmur?

Has He not given you . . .
  Himself to satisfy you,
  His Son to save you,
  His Spirit to lead you,
  His grace to adorn you,
  His covenant to assure you,
  His mercy to pardon you,
  His righteousness to clothe you
--and will you murmur?

Has He not made you . . .
  a friend,
  a son,
  a brother,
  a bride,
  an heir
--and will you murmur?

When you were dead, did not He quicken you?
When you were lost, did not He find you?
When you were wounded, did not He heal you?
When you were falling, did not He support you?
When you were down, did not He raise you?
When you were staggering, did not He establish you?
When you were erring, did not He correct you?
When you were tempted, did not He support you?
When you went in dangers, did not He deliver you?
When you are so highly exalted above millions in the world
--and will you murmur?

Murmuring suits none so badly as saints.

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Spurgeon Gems on Death and Dying

"The day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:1-2


The sight of a funeral is a very healthful thing for the soul.


It is very wise to talk about our death. The shroud, the grave, the shovel may teach us more of true wisdom than all the learned heads that ever pondered vain philosophy, or all the lips that ever uttered earth-born science! "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning--but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." Ecclesiastes 7:4


We are all like trees marked for the woodsman's ax. The fall of one should remind us that for everyone, whether as great as the cedar, or as lowly as the fir tree, the appointed hour is stealing on apace.


We talk of death too lightly. It is solemn work to the best of men. I can assure you that it is no child's play to die. May we regard death as the most weighty of all events, and be sobered by its approach.


The young may die.
The old must die.


There is no pain in death, the pain is in life.
When a man dies, there is an end of life's pain.
Death is the pain-killer, not the pain-maker.
It is not a loss to die--it is a lasting, perpetual gain.


I never yet heard regrets from dying men that they had done too much for Christ, or lived too earnestly for him.


To be prepared to die, is to be prepared to live.


Where death leaves you, judgment will find you, and eternity will keep you!
He who does not prepare for death, is more than an ordinary fool--he is a madman!


The Lord will give dying grace in dying moments.


Let us learn to hold loosely our dearest friends. Let us love them, but let us always learn to love them as dying things.


We go through the dark valley of death--and emerge into the light of eternity.
We do not die--but only sleep to wake in eternity!


God has fixed the hour of our death.
It can neither be postponed by skill of physician, nor hastened by malice of foe.


Time, how short!
Death, how brief!
Eternity, how long!
Immortality, how endless!


There is an essential difference between the death of the godly and the death of the ungodly. Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction--but to the righteous as a summons to his Father's palace! To the sinner death is an execution--to the saint death is casting aside of his sins and infirmities. Death to the wicked is the king of terrors. Death to the saint is the end of terrors, and the commencement of eternal glory!


Oh, if we could not die, it would be indeed horrible!
Who wants to be chained to this poor life for a century or longer?
It is the very joy of this earthly life, to think that it will come to an end.


Death is the physician that eases all pain!


Death is no punishment to the believer--it is the gate of endless joy!


"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:21, 23

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Soon I must go down that road from which I will never return!

(Anonymous)

"Soon I must go down that road from which I will never return!" Job 16:22

An approaching journey lies before me. I have to pass from time, to eternity; from this world, to the next. And the time of my departure, although to me uncertain, cannot be very far distant. A few years--perhaps a few days, will close my stay on earth!

It is an unavoidable journey. I must go. There is no choice. Willing or unwilling, when God's summons for me arrives--I shall have to set off.

It is an unknown journey, I have never taken it before. I have no practical acquaintance with the road, the mode of transit, the dangers or the discomforts which await me. And there is no one who can clearly explain them to me. Those of my friends who have traveled that way have never come back to relate their experience.

It is a solitary journey. I must accomplish it alone. The most beloved of my present companions cannot accompany me. They may think of me, feel for me, pray for me--but they cannot be with me. We must separate; they to remain behind, and I go forward.

It is a momentous journey. For at its termination, I enter upon my everlasting destiny! It will convey me either to the mansions of happiness--or to the abodes of misery! The narrow boundary between the present and the future state once crossed--there will be no possibility of change. "He who is unjust--let him be unjust still; and he who is righteous--let him be righteous still." Revelation 22:11

It is a final journey. "Soon I must go down that road from which I will never return." My pilgrimage will be forever ended. It will be my last journey. And if I am a Christian, how welcome is this fact! I shall be done forever with sin and sorrow. Eternal felicity will be mine--perfect holiness, and perfect happiness. This journey leads me . . .
  to my beloved Savior,
  to my Father's house,
  to my everlasting rest!

Then I will not shrink from its approach, nor complain of its accompaniments. It may be linked with much that is painful and unpleasant--but it is my way HOME! Therefore, although life has many ties and many joys, I feel an earnest desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than being here. "For this is not my resting place, because it is polluted--it is ruined beyond all remedy!" Micah 2:10

Death is a solemn journey--but it is a safe journey to Christ's people. He will not only receive and welcome them at its close--but He will be with them as they are passing through it. Oh, it will not be lonely with Him! And He is a guide who is well acquainted with the way, for He has trodden it Himself. He went for the purpose of smoothing its difficulties, clearing its dangers, dispersing its terrors--and He fully accomplished His purpose. Therefore when I walk through the dark valley, I will fear no evil; for you, O Jesus, will be with me, and Your rod and Your staff shall comfort me!

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Wherever, therefore, you shall flee--there He is!

(Herman Bavinck)

"The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being!" Proverbs 20:27

"O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.
 You know when I sit and when I rise;
 You perceive my thoughts from afar.
 You discern my going out and my lying down;
 You are familiar with all my ways.
 Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord.
 You hem me in--behind and before;
 You have laid Your hand upon me." Psalm 139:1-5

When you wish to do something evil, you retire from the public into your house where no one may see you.

From those places of your house which are open and visible to the eyes of others, you remove yourself into your room.

Even in your room you fear some witness from another quarter, so you retire into your heart, and there you meditate on evil.

But God is more inward than your heart! Wherever, therefore, you shall flee--there He is!

There is no place at all where you may flee from Him!

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
 Where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I go up to the heavens, You are there.
 If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
 if I settle on the far side of the sea--
 even there Your right hand will lay hold of me!" Psalm 139:7-10

"There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves!" Job 34:22

"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:24

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account!" Hebrews 4:13

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Pithy gems from Adrian Rogers #2

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!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The man molds the idol, and then the idol molds the man!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Justice is God giving us what we deserve.
Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve.
Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God only wants for us what we would want for ourselves--if we were wise enough to know what is best for us.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Character is what we are in the dark.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The grace of God . . .
  will exalt a person, without inflating him;
  and will humble a person, without debasing him.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Holiness is not the way to Christ.
Christ is the way to holiness.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Is what I am living for--worth Christ's dying for?

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Go back to Calvary!

(Arthur Pink, 1886-1952)

"When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6

Christ did not die in order to make God love us, but because He did love His people.

The cruel cross is the supreme demonstration of Divine love.

Christian reader, whenever you are tempted to doubt the love of God for you, go back to Calvary!

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8

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And thus the churches were filled with unregenerate members!

(Arthur Pink, 1886-1952)

Many of the pulpiteers of the past fifty years acted as though the first and last object of their calling was the salvation of souls, everything being made to bend to that aim. In consequence, the feeding of the sheep, the maintaining of Scriptural discipline in the church, and the inculcation of practical piety, was crowded out; and only too often all sorts of worldly devices and fleshly methods were employed under the plea that the end justified the means; and thus the churches were filled with unregenerate members!

In reality, such men defeated their own aim. The hard heart must be ploughed and harrowed before it can be receptive to the gospel seed. Doctrinal instruction must be given on the character of God, the requirements of His Law, the nature and heinousness of sin--if a foundation is to be laid for true evangelism. It is useless to preach Christ unto souls, until they see and feel their desperate need of Him!

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Thanksgiving is never out of season!

(James Smith)

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus!" 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Everything we enjoy should be viewed as coming from the gracious and liberal hand of our sovereign God.

All was forfeited by our sin.

All that we receive is by His grace.

The providence that supplies us--is the wisdom, benevolence, and power of God in operation for us--as expressive of His infinite love and unmerited grace!

Our talents to provide supplies,
our opportunities to obtain them,
and our abilities to enjoy them,
--are alike from the Lord.

Every mercy increases our obligation and deepens our debt to free grace!

Thanksgiving is never out of season, for we have always much to be grateful for.

We must view all things as . . .
  arranged by His wisdom,
  dependent on His will,
  sanctified by His blessing,
  according with His promises,
  and flowing from His love!

"In everything give thanks!" 1 Thessalonians 5:18