Let Us Trust Him in the Dark - Ichabod Spencer

We are unable to penetrate God's designs; and the things which seem to us most severe are often to be numbered among our most remarkable mercies. Let us take them submissively at his hand. If there is goodness anywhere, it is to be found in God. Let us trust him. Let us trust him in the dark.

 

Taken from the book Practical Sermons by Ichabod Spencer 1798-1854

 

There Are Disasters To Be Faced - Oswald Chambers

There are disasters to be faced by the one who is in real fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God has never promised to keep us immune from trouble; He says "I will be with him in trouble," which is a very different thing.

 

Taken from the book The Quotable Oswald Chambers  

Oswald Chambers 1874-1917

Little in Hand - Thomas Brooks

I know of thy poverty, but thou art rich. (Rev 2:9)

Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's pleasure to give you a kingdom (Luke 12:32)

Though saints have little in hand, yet they have much in hope.

 

 

Taken from the book Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

by Thomas Brooks  1652

If We Abound In Faith - John Owen

If we abound in faith, we shall thrive in holiness.

 

Taken from the book The Holy Spirit by John Owen 1674 

Abridged by R.J.K. Law

 

Any Sin Against Conscience - Richard Sibbes

As when a man is ashamed to look on another whom he has wronged, so the soul that has run into sins against conscience is ashamed to look on Christ and to go to God again. Any sin against conscience grieves the Spirit and hinders all sweet liberty that was there before.

Taken from the book Glorious Freedom by Richard Sibbes 1639

A Proud Heart Never Praises God - Charles Spurgeon

A proud heart never praises God, for it hoards up praise for itself.

 

From the sermon "Praise Your God. O Zion"

By Charles Spurgeon February 25th, 1866

 

He Who Would Be Like God Must - John Owen

 He who would be like God must be sure to love him, or all attempts to be like him will fail. He who loves God sincerely will put forth every effort to be like him. Love casts the mind into the mould of the object loved.

 

Taken from the book The Holy Spirit by John Owen 1674

Abridged by R.J.K. Law

 

The First Sermon That Christ Preached - Thomas Watson

 Repentance is a grace required under the gospel. Some think it legal; but the first sermon that Christ preached, indeed, the first word of his sermon, was "Repent" (Matt. 4:17). And his farewell that he left when he was going to ascend was that repentance should be preached in his name' (Luke 24:47). The apostles did all beat upon this string: 'They went out and preached that men should repent' (Mark 6:12).

 

Taken from the book The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson 1668

 

The Word of God Is Always Most Precious To - Charles Spurgeon

The Word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it.

 

Taken from the book Council for Christian Workers by Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892

It Proves That He Knows Our Hearts - Andrew Murray

 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
(Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

 

It is significant that the Lord thought it necessary to repeat the truth in so many forms. It proves that He knows our hearts, how doubt and distrust toward God are natural to us, and how easily we are inclined to rest in prayer as a religious duty without expecting an answer.

 

Taken from the book Teach Me To Pray by Andrew Murray 1828-1917

Love Should Be the Silver Thread – JC Ryle

I do not mean that you are to spoil your child, but I do mean that you should let him see that you love him.

Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct. Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, forbearance, patience, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to take part in childish joys, — these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily, — these are the clues you must follow if you would find the way to his heart.

Taken from the book The Duties of Parents by JC Ryle 1816-1900

He Who Hath Given Himself Entirely - Henry Scougal

He who hath given himself entirely unto God,

will never think he doth too much for him.

 

Taken from the book The Life of God in the Soul of Man

by Henry Scougal 1650-1678

 

Let Christ Wear Those Jewels - Thomas Watson

 Love can part with anything to the object loved. Isaac loved Rebekah and he gave away his jewels to her (Genesis 24:53). The humble saint loves Christ entirely, therefore can part with anything to him. He gives away to Christ the honour and praise of all he does. Let Christ wear those jewels.

 

Taken from the book The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson 1666

 

To Look Outward - JC Ryle

Notice the simple humility of their language about Lazarus. They call him, "He whom you love". They do not say "He who loves you, believes in you, serves you", but "He whom you love".

 

Martha and Mary were taught by God. They had learned that Christ's love towards us, and not our love towards Christ, is the true basis of expecting an answer, and the true foundation of hope. To look inward to our love towards Christ is painfully unsatisfying; to look outward to Christ's love towards us is peace.

 

Taken from the book Sickness by JC Ryle 1816-1900

 

From Love to God Springs - Jonathan Edwards

From love to God springs love to man, as says the apostle "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him." (1 John 5:1 ESV)

Have we this love to all who are the children of God?

 

Taken from the book Charity and its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards 1668–1759

Through Consistent Daily Prayer - Andrew Murray 4-9-12

Through consistent daily prayer, my whole life becomes devoted to my King and to the service of His kingdom.

 

Taken from the book 199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking with God: Compiled from the Writings of Andrew Murray -Andrew Murray 1828-1917

Not At The Expense Of - Austen Phelps

We have been self-convicted of falsehood in prayer; for, though praying in the full dress of sound words, we did not desire that our supplications should be heard at the expense of that one idol.

 

Taken from the book The Still Hour: Communion with God in Prayer

by Austen Phelps 1859

Do I Have To Give Up The World? - DL Moody

A man said to me some time ago: "Mr. Moody, now that I am converted, have I to give up the world?"

 

"No," said I, "you haven't to give up the world. If you give a good ringing testimony for the Son of God, the world will give you up pretty quick; they won't want you."

 

Taken from the book Day by Day with DL Moody  DL Moody  1837-1899

You Have Strong Faith And Assurance, Yet - William Bridge

As a man may have strong faith with assurance, and yet some doubts and fears may be left in the soul still; so a man may have strong faith and assurance, yet for a long time may be deprived of the feeling of it.

 

And therefore, whereas the spouse in the Song of Songs in one place says, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine," in another place she says, "I sought him whom my soul loveth, and I found him not: I opened to my beloved, and he was gone, and my soul failed; I called and he answered not."

 

Taken from the book A Lifting Up For The Downcast by William Bridge 1649

 

Martin Luther Believed What He Spoke

Nobody doubted that Martin Luther believed what he spoke. He spoke with thunder, for there was lightning in his faith. The man preached all over, for his entire nature believed. You felt, "Well, he may be mad, or he may be altogether mistaken, but he assuredly believes what he says. He is the incarnation of faith; his heart is running over at his lips."

 

Martin Luther 1483-1546

Taken from the book Lectures To My Students  by Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892

No One Once Thanked Him - John Bunyan

And it is worth your noting, that all the while that Christ was in the world, putting himself upon those other preparations which were to be antecedent to his being made a sacrifice for us, no man, though he told what he came about to many, had, as we read of, a heart once to thank him for what he came about (Isaiah 53:5).

 

Taken from the book All Loves Excelling by John Bunyan 1692