“Sun, moon, and stars beckon people to worship the Creator—until people lose sight of the living God and begin to worship the sun, moon, and stars themselves.”
― Abraham Kuyper
"Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain."
― John Calvin
“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ on the wall of his cell.”
― C. S. Lewis
"False gods patiently endure the existence of other false gods. Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true God, Dagon must fall before His ark; Bel must be broken, and Ashtaroth must be consumed with fire." (1 Kings 18:18-39)
― Charles Spurgeon
“There is no such “mother” as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The power to produce life resides in the Author of nature — God. To substitute nature as the source of life is to confuse the creature with the Creator. All forms of nature worship are acts of idolatry that are detestable to God.”
― R.C. Sproul
"If we exalt money, status, or sex above the Word of God, we are living in idolatry. Every time we inwardly submit to the strongholds of fear, bitterness, and pride, we are bowing to the rulers of darkness. Each of these idols must be smashed, splintered, and obliterated from the landscape of our hearts."
― Francis Frangipane
“Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?”
― Francis Chan
“We were placed on earth to know God. Everything else is secondary.”
― Greg Laurie
“Anything you love more, fear more, serve more, or value more than God is your idol.”
— Adrian Rogers
“Sun, moon, and stars beckon people to worship the Creator—until people lose sight of the living God and begin to worship the sun, moon, and stars themselves.”
― Abraham Kuyper
"Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain."
― John Calvin
“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ on the wall of his cell.”
― C. S. Lewis
"False gods patiently endure the existence of other false gods. Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true God, Dagon must fall before His ark; Bel must be broken, and Ashtaroth must be consumed with fire." (1 Kings 18:18-39)
― Charles Spurgeon
“There is no such “mother” as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The power to produce life resides in the Author of nature — God. To substitute nature as the source of life is to confuse the creature with the Creator. All forms of nature worship are acts of idolatry that are detestable to God.”
― R.C. Sproul
"If we exalt money, status, or sex above the Word of God, we are living in idolatry. Every time we inwardly submit to the strongholds of fear, bitterness, and pride, we are bowing to the rulers of darkness. Each of these idols must be smashed, splintered, and obliterated from the landscape of our hearts."
― Francis Frangipane
“Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?”
― Francis Chan
“We were placed on earth to know God. Everything else is secondary.”
― Greg Laurie
“Anything you love more, fear more, serve more, or value more than God is your idol.”
— Adrian Rogers
Exodus 20 (NIV)
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
” When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
“‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.
supporting scripture
“let no one be found among you who … practices
divination or sorcery,
interprets omens,
engages in witchcraft.”
“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 19:4
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the
Lord God,
“who is, and who was,
and who is to come,
the Almighty.”
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
James 2:19
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired, His understanding is inscrutable."
Isaiah 40:28
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, oryou will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money".
Matthew 6:24
“In biblical thinking, genuine love exists only when good works are done in a context where God rather than the doer gets the credit.”
“I cannot love you as I love myself until I love God as I ought to love Him.”
“We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans … In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us.”
“The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”
― Billy Graham
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”
“The only way you can serve God is by serving other people.”
“What is my thought? I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, This is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.”
“When you love the Lord, you long to glorify Him and see the nations fall at His feet in worship. When you love your neighbor as yourself, you share the gospel with him and seek to meet his needs in every way you can, which includes seeing him fall at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving for salvation.”
“In biblical thinking, genuine love exists only when good works are done in a context where God rather than the doer gets the credit.”
“I cannot love you as I love myself until I love God as I ought to love Him.”
“We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans … In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us.”
“The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”
― Billy Graham
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”
“The only way you can serve God is by serving other people.”
“What is my thought? I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, This is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.”
“When you love the Lord, you long to glorify Him and see the nations fall at His feet in worship. When you love your neighbor as yourself, you share the gospel with him and seek to meet his needs in every way you can, which includes seeing him fall at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving for salvation.”
Luke 10:1-28(NIV)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.
“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
supporting scripture
"Whoever does not love
does not know God,
because God is love."
“but if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."
Philippians 2:3:5
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Romans 12:9-10
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus"
Philippians 2:5-6
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters."
Hebrews 13:1
"Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly."
Colossians 3:14
"Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:18-19
“God is love. He didn’t need us. But he wanted us. And that is the most amazing thing.”
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us”
“God is love. Therefore love. Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, love.”
“Love is an act of endless forgiveness.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“When I am critical of others, I am actually exposing my own sin. If Christ lives in me, continually extending His mercy toward me, I will reflect His compassion by caring about the needs of others rather than by criticizing them."
“God is love. He didn’t need us. But he wanted us. And that is the most amazing thing.”
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us”
“God is love. Therefore love. Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, love.”
“Love is an act of endless forgiveness.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
“When I am critical of others, I am actually exposing my own sin. If Christ lives in me, continually extending His mercy toward me, I will reflect His compassion by caring about the needs of others rather than by criticizing them."
1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 12-13 (NIV)
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails ... For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
supporting scripture
“and so we know and rely on the love
God has for us.
God is love. whoever lives in love
lives in God,
and God in them.”
"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
“If I’m not showing grace … have I forgotten the grace I’ve been shown?”
“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”
“God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.”
"Hurting people hurt people."
― Author Unknown
“The man or woman who doesn't forgive has forgotten the price that Christ paid for them on the Cross.”
"He who angers you controls you."
“It is said that resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.”
“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.”
“Do not say, ‘I cannot help having a bad temper.’ Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.”
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
“If I’m not showing grace … have I forgotten the grace I’ve been shown?”
“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”
“God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.”
"Hurting people hurt people."
― Author Unknown
“The man or woman who doesn't forgive has forgotten the price that Christ paid for them on the Cross.”
"He who angers you controls you."
“It is said that resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.”
“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.”
“Do not say, ‘I cannot help having a bad temper.’ Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.”
Luke 6:30-42 (NIV)
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
supporting scripture
“in the same way you judge others, you will be judged …why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."
1 Thessalonians 5:15
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Mark 11:25
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. "
1 John 4:7-8
Jesus "is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 2:2
In Jesus "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
Ephesians 1:7
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”
– John Piper
“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.”
“We are the son, and God is the father. We have incurred a debt against God, and we can’t pay Him back. So in His mercy, He pays our sins for us. The wages of our sin is death, and He died on our behalf, balancing the accounts.”
“Nothing should keep our minds busier on earth than this great reality: the Holy One of God was declared unholy, so that unholy sinners might stand unblemished before a holy God.”
“God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what He said and fulfill what He has promised.”
“Every day is a gift from God. Learn to focus on the Giver and enjoy the gift!”
“Those who follow God on earth, live with him forever in heaven. There is a resurrection to eternal life for those who are found in Christ.”
“God cannot change. He cannot be anything other than who He is. Out of His love and His promises, you were selected as His treasure. God’s faithfulness has been the bedrock of His dealings with humanity throughout time.”
“It was Christ who willingly went to the cross, and it was our sins that took him there.
“His brokenhearted cry on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,’ shows God’s heart toward sinners.”
“As Christ struggled up Calvary’s hill and bled upon it, His aim was to eradicate self-love and implant the love of God in the hearts of men. One can only increase as the other decreases.”
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”
– John Piper
“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.”
“We are the son, and God is the father. We have incurred a debt against God, and we can’t pay Him back. So in His mercy, He pays our sins for us. The wages of our sin is death, and He died on our behalf, balancing the accounts.”
“Nothing should keep our minds busier on earth than this great reality: the Holy One of God was declared unholy, so that unholy sinners might stand unblemished before a holy God.”
“God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what He said and fulfill what He has promised.”
“Every day is a gift from God. Learn to focus on the Giver and enjoy the gift!”
“Those who follow God on earth, live with him forever in heaven. There is a resurrection to eternal life for those who are found in Christ.”
“God cannot change. He cannot be anything other than who He is. Out of His love and His promises, you were selected as His treasure. God’s faithfulness has been the bedrock of His dealings with humanity throughout time.”
“It was Christ who willingly went to the cross, and it was our sins that took him there.
“His brokenhearted cry on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,’ shows God’s heart toward sinners.”
“As Christ struggled up Calvary’s hill and bled upon it, His aim was to eradicate self-love and implant the love of God in the hearts of men. One can only increase as the other decreases.”
John 3 (NIV)
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. (This was before John was put in prison.) An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
supporting scripture
“for this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for
the sins of the people.”
"God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved."
Ephesians 2:4-5
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
"Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big God is."
― Author Unknown
"God’s purpose in us as his children is that we might be dependent upon Him completely."
— Alistair Begg
“God is going to see if, when under stress, are you going to turn to Him, or are you going to turn to other things?”
— Rick Warren
"So often we think and act as if God was not even alive. We act like He doesn’t even know about the situation that we are going through. We need to be reminded that God is a living God and that He acts on behalf of His people."
— Iain Gordon
“Fear can paralyze us and keep us from believing God and stepping out in faith. The devil loves a fearful Christian!”
— Billy Graham
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“Put your expectations on God, not on people.”
— Joyce Meyer
“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.”
— John Newton
“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.”
— Max Lucado
“Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee.”
— Francis Frangipane
"Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big God is."
― Author Unknown
"God’s purpose in us as his children is that we might be dependent upon Him completely."
— Alistair Begg
“God is going to see if, when under stress, are you going to turn to Him, or are you going to turn to other things?”
— Rick Warren
"So often we think and act as if God was not even alive. We act like He doesn’t even know about the situation that we are going through. We need to be reminded that God is a living God and that He acts on behalf of His people."
— Iain Gordon
“Fear can paralyze us and keep us from believing God and stepping out in faith. The devil loves a fearful Christian!”
— Billy Graham
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“Put your expectations on God, not on people.”
— Joyce Meyer
“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.”
— John Newton
“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.”
— Max Lucado
“Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee.”
— Francis Frangipane
supporting scripture
“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!”
Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
Matthew 8 (NIV)
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “LORD,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
supporting scripture
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm, and a shade from the heat …
Isaiah 25:4
… God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life ... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"
Luke 12:22-25
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7
Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
"We don’t come to Jesus for a better life. We come to Jesus because He is life.”
― John Bevere
"The truth that sets us free is this: Jesus is the one and only way to everlasting life."
― Michael Youssef
“If Christ is not all to you He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If He be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything He is nothing to you.”
― Charles Spurgeon
"Christ is God's way to man; Christ is man's way to God. Christ is the true Jacob's ladder. By Him the penitent sinner, the believing soul, the redeemed child of God may come unto the Father and enter into the house of many mansions.”
― George W. Truett
“There is no other way to experience the joy of eternal life in Heaven other than through Jesus.”
― John Stange
“The Bible comes both to warn and to encourage and always to turn us again to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
― Alistair Begg
"It ought to be placed in the forefront of all Christian teaching that Christ's mission on earth was to give men Life. I am come, He said, that ye might have Life, and that ye might have it more abundantly. And that He meant literal Life, literal spiritual and Eternal Life, is clear from the whole course of His teaching and acting."
― Henry Drummond
"Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ. Accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification and eternal life by virtue of God's grace."
― Charles Spurgeon
"This one word 'grace' contains within itself the whole of New Testament theology."
― J. I. Packer
“From the sepulcher He arose, with His wounds healed, His scars kept. For this He judged expedient for His disciples, that His scars should be kept, where by the wounds of their hearts might be healed. What wounds? The wounds of unbelief.”
― Saint Augustine
“Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer, let faith fill your heart – so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
― Andrew Murray
"It is the truth that has died, not God.”
― Melvin Muggeridge
“I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back …Though none go with me, I still will follow; no turning back, no turning back … My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; no turning back, no turning back … The world behind me, the cross before me; no turning back, no turning back.”
― “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” unknown author. For the true story behind the song:
http://thecripplegate.com/why-we-sing-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus/
"We don’t come to Jesus for a better life. We come to Jesus because He is life.”
― John Bevere
"The truth that sets us free is this: Jesus is the one and only way to everlasting life."
― Michael Youssef
“If Christ is not all to you He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If He be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything He is nothing to you.”
― Charles Spurgeon
"Christ is God's way to man; Christ is man's way to God. Christ is the true Jacob's ladder. By Him the penitent sinner, the believing soul, the redeemed child of God may come unto the Father and enter into the house of many mansions.”
― George W. Truett
“There is no other way to experience the joy of eternal life in Heaven other than through Jesus.”
― John Stange
“The Bible comes both to warn and to encourage and always to turn us again to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
― Alistair Begg
"It ought to be placed in the forefront of all Christian teaching that Christ's mission on earth was to give men Life. I am come, He said, that ye might have Life, and that ye might have it more abundantly. And that He meant literal Life, literal spiritual and Eternal Life, is clear from the whole course of His teaching and acting."
― Henry Drummond
"Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ. Accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification and eternal life by virtue of God's grace."
― Charles Spurgeon
"This one word 'grace' contains within itself the whole of New Testament theology."
― J. I. Packer
“From the sepulcher He arose, with His wounds healed, His scars kept. For this He judged expedient for His disciples, that His scars should be kept, where by the wounds of their hearts might be healed. What wounds? The wounds of unbelief.”
― Saint Augustine
“Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer, let faith fill your heart – so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
― Andrew Murray
"It is the truth that has died, not God.”
― Melvin Muggeridge
“I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back …Though none go with me, I still will follow; no turning back, no turning back … My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; no turning back, no turning back … The world behind me, the cross before me; no turning back, no turning back.”
― “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” unknown author. For the true story behind the song:
http://thecripplegate.com/why-we-sing-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus/
supporting scripture
“All those the Father gives me
will come to me,
and whoever
comes to me
I will never drive away.”
Acts 4:12
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30
"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ."
Romans 8:9
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26
" For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
John 14:1-21 (Niv)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Wisdom is the expressive mind of God. It is Logos. It is a person - Christ Himself.”
― Dr. Berty Abdelmasih
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
― C.S. Lewis
“Man may reject you but God is not looking for perfection but willingness to be moldable to do his will.”
― Edith Prakash
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."
― Mark Batterson
“The Bible is a book you can completely rely on to tell you the truth about God – and about yourself.”
― Reinhard Bonnke
“Psalms teach us how to worship; Proverbs, how to behave; Job, how to suffer; Song of Solomon, how to love; and Ecclesiastes, how to live.”
― J. I. Packer
"No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace."
― Author Unknown
"Pulled out of the mud of your own ego, so that you have stopped thinking that you are somebody, at last you are delivered from yourself and are seeking God for Himself alone."
― A.W. Tozer
“The Holy Scripture is like a diamond: in the dark it is like a piece of glass, but as soon as the light strikes it the water begins to sparkle, and the scintillation of life greets us.”
― Abraham Kuyper
"Certainly we should be very active in seeking God, and Jesus himself called us to 'ask, seek, knock' in order to find him. Yet those who enter a relationship with God inevitably look back and recognize that God's grace had sought them out, breaking them open to new realities."
― Timothy Keller
“God is seeking those who hear His call to a life of worship. Those who heed are those who will walk in His presence. They will know Him intimately as He will manifest Himself to them.”
― John Bever
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
― Dwight L. Moody
“Wisdom is the expressive mind of God. It is Logos. It is a person - Christ Himself.”
― Dr. Berty Abdelmasih
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
― C.S. Lewis
“Man may reject you but God is not looking for perfection but willingness to be moldable to do his will.”
― Edith Prakash
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."
― Mark Batterson
“The Bible is a book you can completely rely on to tell you the truth about God – and about yourself.”
― Reinhard Bonnke
“Psalms teach us how to worship; Proverbs, how to behave; Job, how to suffer; Song of Solomon, how to love; and Ecclesiastes, how to live.”
― J. I. Packer
"No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace."
― Author Unknown
"Pulled out of the mud of your own ego, so that you have stopped thinking that you are somebody, at last you are delivered from yourself and are seeking God for Himself alone."
― A.W. Tozer
“The Holy Scripture is like a diamond: in the dark it is like a piece of glass, but as soon as the light strikes it the water begins to sparkle, and the scintillation of life greets us.”
― Abraham Kuyper
"Certainly we should be very active in seeking God, and Jesus himself called us to 'ask, seek, knock' in order to find him. Yet those who enter a relationship with God inevitably look back and recognize that God's grace had sought them out, breaking them open to new realities."
― Timothy Keller
“God is seeking those who hear His call to a life of worship. Those who heed are those who will walk in His presence. They will know Him intimately as He will manifest Himself to them.”
― John Bever
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
― Dwight L. Moody
Proverbs 8 (NIV)
Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
supporting scripture
"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."
"Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings."
" Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Revelation 3:20
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
"Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always."
1 Chronicles 16:11
"Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us. But he will answer,
‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’’
Luke 13:25
"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding."
“There is a kind of life that leads to death. There is a kind of death that leads to life.”
― Alistair Begg
"The broad road is a road of religion that says heaven but it ends up in hell."
― John MacArthur
“What we have to ask is, if I keep heading in this direction, where is he going to carry me? Is it going to carry me closer to God? One of satan's most deceptive and powerful ways of defeating us is to get us to believe a lie. And the biggest lie is that there are no consequences to our own doing. Satan will give you whatever you ask for if it will lead you where he ultimately wants you.”
– Charles Stanley
“So here is what it comes down to: the ultimate choice in life is between pleasing ourselves and pleasing God.”
– Greg Laurie
"Make sure the thing you're living for is worth dying for."
– Charles Mayes
“He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he’s moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain.”
– Randy Alcorn
“If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.”
― Henry Blackaby
“Destruction by distraction is difficult to detect when it’s happening, because it doesn’t involve bad things but good things that take the place of the most important things.”
― Levi Lusko
“Humility is a virtue to be highly sought but never claimed, because once claimed it is forfeited.“
― John MacArthur
"When we change the message of God, we change the God of the message."
― Warren Wiersbe
“There is a kind of life that leads to death. There is a kind of death that leads to life.”
― Alistair Begg
"The broad road is a road of religion that says heaven but it ends up in hell."
― John MacArthur
“What we have to ask is, if I keep heading in this direction, where is he going to carry me? Is it going to carry me closer to God? One of satan's most deceptive and powerful ways of defeating us is to get us to believe a lie. And the biggest lie is that there are no consequences to our own doing. Satan will give you whatever you ask for if it will lead you where he ultimately wants you.”
– Charles Stanley
“So here is what it comes down to: the ultimate choice in life is between pleasing ourselves and pleasing God.”
– Greg Laurie
"Make sure the thing you're living for is worth dying for."
– Charles Mayes
“He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he’s moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain.”
– Randy Alcorn
“If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.”
― Henry Blackaby
“Destruction by distraction is difficult to detect when it’s happening, because it doesn’t involve bad things but good things that take the place of the most important things.”
― Levi Lusko
“Humility is a virtue to be highly sought but never claimed, because once claimed it is forfeited.“
― John MacArthur
"When we change the message of God, we change the God of the message."
― Warren Wiersbe
Matthew 7 (NIV)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
supporting scripture
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you
in the way
you should go.
If only you had paid
attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being
like the
waves of the sea.”
"There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12
Proverbs 16:25
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"
John 5:41-44
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
1 Peter 18-19
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8
Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in”: Aim at earth and you will get neither.”
― C. S. Lewis
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
– Jim Elliot
“There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.”
― Billy Graham
“God has nothing to say to the self-righteous.”
― Dwight L. Moody
"Pride is functioning without God."
– Steve Reynolds
“To put our hope in wealth is to depend upon it as our ultimate source of security. Only God should occupy this treasured position in our lives.”
– Jeff Manion
“Don’t confuse temporal with eternal value.”
– Dr. David Jeremiah
“The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.”
― Randy Alcorn
" ... those who reject Christ and further their own pursuits unknowingly make satan their god...”
― Nina Keegan
“Those who go to Heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings tat they never earned, but all who go to hell pay their own way.”
― John R. Rice
"We are drifting toward a religion which consciously or unconsciously has its eye on humanity rather than on deity."
― Alistair Begg
“Faith is not to get you out of a hard place but to change your heart in the hard place.”
― David Wilkerson
“The more man reaches for material things on the outside, the more he points to his bankruptcy on the inside.”
― Leonard Ravenhill
"Atheists express their rage against God, although in their view He does not exist"
― C.S. Lewis
"Hell is dark because 1 John 1:5 said God is light. There’s only death in hell because John 1:4 said God is life.
There’s only hatred in hell because 1 John 4:16 said God is love. There’s no mercy in hell because Psalms 36:5 says the mercy of the Lord is in the Heavens. There’s no strength in hell because Psalms 18:32 said it’s the Lord that gives us strength. There’s no water in hell because Deuteronomy 11:11 says water is the rain of Heaven. There is no peace in hell because Isaiah 9:6 says He (Jesus) is the Prince of Peace.
―Bill Wiese
Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in”: Aim at earth and you will get neither.”
― C. S. Lewis
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
– Jim Elliot
“There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.”
― Billy Graham
“God has nothing to say to the self-righteous.”
― Dwight L. Moody
"Pride is functioning without God."
– Steve Reynolds
“To put our hope in wealth is to depend upon it as our ultimate source of security. Only God should occupy this treasured position in our lives.”
– Jeff Manion
“Don’t confuse temporal with eternal value.”
– Dr. David Jeremiah
“The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.”
― Randy Alcorn
" ... those who reject Christ and further their own pursuits unknowingly make satan their god...”
― Nina Keegan
“Those who go to Heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings tat they never earned, but all who go to hell pay their own way.”
― John R. Rice
"We are drifting toward a religion which consciously or unconsciously has its eye on humanity rather than on deity."
― Alistair Begg
“Faith is not to get you out of a hard place but to change your heart in the hard place.”
― David Wilkerson
“The more man reaches for material things on the outside, the more he points to his bankruptcy on the inside.”
― Leonard Ravenhill
"Atheists express their rage against God, although in their view He does not exist"
― C.S. Lewis
"Hell is dark because 1 John 1:5 said God is light. There’s only death in hell because John 1:4 said God is life.
There’s only hatred in hell because 1 John 4:16 said God is love. There’s no mercy in hell because Psalms 36:5 says the mercy of the Lord is in the Heavens. There’s no strength in hell because Psalms 18:32 said it’s the Lord that gives us strength. There’s no water in hell because Deuteronomy 11:11 says water is the rain of Heaven. There is no peace in hell because Isaiah 9:6 says He (Jesus) is the Prince of Peace.
―Bill Wiese
Matthew 16 (NIV)
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
supporting scripture
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great
is that darkness!
“No one can serve t
wo masters.
Either you will
hate the one and
love the other, or you will be
devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money."
Jesus went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed,malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly."
Mark 7:20-22
"In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God."
Psalm 10:4
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
Proverbs 11:2
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
1 Timothy 6:10
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
1 John 2:15
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
James 4:4
“One of satan's most deceptive and powerful ways of defeating us is to get us to believe a lie. And the biggest lie is that there are no consequences to our own doing. Satan will give you whatever you ask for if it will lead you where he ultimately wants you.”
– Charles Stanley
“Satan knows that the nature of humankind is to act out of how we feel rather than what we know. One of our most important defenses against satanic influence will be learning how to behave out of what we know is truth rather than what we feel.”
― Beth Moore
“Jesus called satan 'the father of lies.' Why? Because His chief strategy is to deny, confuse, misrepresent, or counterfeit whatever God has said."
― David Jeremiah
"God hates the LUKEWARM GOSPEL OF HALF-TRUTHS that is now spreading over the Globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and you'll be Saved. There's nothing more to it.' It ignores the Whole Counsel of God, which speaks of Repenting from former Sins, of Taking up your Cross, of being conformed to the Image of Christ by the refining work of the Holy Spirit. It is totally silent about the Reality of Hell and an After-Death Judgment."
― David Wilkerson
“If you believe in the Gospel what you like, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”
― John Bevere
“When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less.”
― C. S. Lewis
“An evil man is clay to God, and wax to the devil; a good man is God’s wax, and satan’s clay.”
― Joseph Hall
"What an absolutely untenable spot to be in. Worship God and die now (to sin). Worship the anti-Christ and die forever."
― Jack Kelley
"The most dangerous lie is the lie that resembles the truth."
― Michael Youssef
“One of satan's most deceptive and powerful ways of defeating us is to get us to believe a lie. And the biggest lie is that there are no consequences to our own doing. Satan will give you whatever you ask for if it will lead you where he ultimately wants you.”
– Charles Stanley
“Satan knows that the nature of humankind is to act out of how we feel rather than what we know. One of our most important defenses against satanic influence will be learning how to behave out of what we know is truth rather than what we feel.”
― Beth Moore
“Jesus called satan 'the father of lies.' Why? Because His chief strategy is to deny, confuse, misrepresent, or counterfeit whatever God has said."
― David Jeremiah
"God hates the LUKEWARM GOSPEL OF HALF-TRUTHS that is now spreading over the Globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and you'll be Saved. There's nothing more to it.' It ignores the Whole Counsel of God, which speaks of Repenting from former Sins, of Taking up your Cross, of being conformed to the Image of Christ by the refining work of the Holy Spirit. It is totally silent about the Reality of Hell and an After-Death Judgment."
― David Wilkerson
“If you believe in the Gospel what you like, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”
― John Bevere
“When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less.”
― C. S. Lewis
“An evil man is clay to God, and wax to the devil; a good man is God’s wax, and satan’s clay.”
― Joseph Hall
"What an absolutely untenable spot to be in. Worship God and die now (to sin). Worship the anti-Christ and die forever."
― Jack Kelley
"The most dangerous lie is the lie that resembles the truth."
― Michael Youssef
John 8 (NIV)
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
supporting scripture
"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
“the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full.”
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."
1 Timothy 4:1-2
"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son."
1 John 2:22
"... by Jesus' death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil"
Hebrews 2:14
Then Jesus will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
Matthew 25:41
The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 9:20-21
"The only true conqueror who shall be crowned in the end is he who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more.... Christian, wear your shield close to your armor and cry earnestly to God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end."
― Alistair Begg
“The number one key to spiritual warfare is prayer.”
― Jacob Peterson
“Let God handle your battles today. Stand still and see the salvation of our God!”
― Edith Prakash
“You can’t bring the Gospel without power any more than having fire without heat.”
― Reinhard Bonnke
“Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt at night. The best way to fight against sin is to fight it on our knees.”
― Philip Henry
“We are defenseless against our enemy if we are living a lie.”
― Andrea Logan White
“I have to keep in mind that the battle is ultimately not mine. It is God’s. And when I suit up in His strength, He goes before me and fights on my behalf.”
― Gwen Smith
"Living in sin will bring death into our lives, whether we know it or not. It is a spiritual law, and it is just as effective as the physical laws. Evil is attracted to sin just as a magnet is attracted to metal. Evil will come after you and hunt you down (Proverbs 13:21; Psalm 140:11). If we continue in sin, it will destroy us."
― Bill Wiese
“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.”
― Abraham Kuyper
"The only true conqueror who shall be crowned in the end is he who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more.... Christian, wear your shield close to your armor and cry earnestly to God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end."
― Alistair Begg
“The number one key to spiritual warfare is prayer.”
― Jacob Peterson
“Let God handle your battles today. Stand still and see the salvation of our God!”
― Edith Prakash
“You can’t bring the Gospel without power any more than having fire without heat.”
― Reinhard Bonnke
“Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt at night. The best way to fight against sin is to fight it on our knees.”
― Philip Henry
“We are defenseless against our enemy if we are living a lie.”
― Andrea Logan White
“I have to keep in mind that the battle is ultimately not mine. It is God’s. And when I suit up in His strength, He goes before me and fights on my behalf.”
― Gwen Smith
"Living in sin will bring death into our lives, whether we know it or not. It is a spiritual law, and it is just as effective as the physical laws. Evil is attracted to sin just as a magnet is attracted to metal. Evil will come after you and hunt you down (Proverbs 13:21; Psalm 140:11). If we continue in sin, it will destroy us."
― Bill Wiese
“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.”
― Abraham Kuyper
Ephesians 6:10-18
Ephesians 6:10-20(NIV)
The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
supporting scripture
"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
“the night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on
the armor of light.”
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12
"But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on
faith and love as a breastplate,and the hope of salvation as a helmet."
1 Thessalonians 5:8
"Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
"He (Jesus) says that He is not changing the law and the prophets, but He is fulfilling it. He says, “I am ordaining priests forever, I am ordaining Kings forever." In Revelation 5, we are chosen to be His Kings (by His authority). We are salt and light, priests and kings – by adopting us by the eternal covenant that was given to David in 2 Samuel 7. We are the fulfillment of 2 Samuel 7:12-17"
– Berty Abdelmasih
“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.”
– John MacArthur
“God’s way of saving men is to send out His servants to tell them the gospel, and the Church has been charged to go into all the world for that very purpose.
Evangelism is man’s work, but the giving of the faith is God’s.”
― J. I. Packer
“We are all missionaries wherever we go. We either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them.”
― Eric Lidell
“Beloved, for the sake of a lost and dying world, pay any price, get God’s power and set the prisoners free.”
― John G. Lake
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
― C.S. Lewis
“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”
― Alistair Begg
"The point of your life is to point to Him."
― Francis Chan
"Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him."
― C. S. Lewis
“The key to usefulness in the Kingdom of God begins with self-forgetfulness.”
― John Calvin
“God sends people into our lives just when we need them, to say the right word, His word, just when we need it.”
― W. A. Criswell
“If you are not fishing (sharing the gospel), you are not following (Jesus).”
– Greg Brinson
"And I, I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus"
― Casting Crowns
“I’d rather have people hate me with the knowledge that I tried to save them.”
― Keith Green
"He (Jesus) says that He is not changing the law and the prophets, but He is fulfilling it. He says, “I am ordaining priests forever, I am ordaining Kings forever." In Revelation 5, we are chosen to be His Kings (by His authority). We are salt and light, priests and kings – by adopting us by the eternal covenant that was given to David in 2 Samuel 7. We are the fulfillment of 2 Samuel 7:12-17"
– Berty Abdelmasih
“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.”
– John MacArthur
“God’s way of saving men is to send out His servants to tell them the gospel, and the Church has been charged to go into all the world for that very purpose.
Evangelism is man’s work, but the giving of the faith is God’s.”
― J. I. Packer
“We are all missionaries wherever we go. We either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them.”
― Eric Lidell
“Beloved, for the sake of a lost and dying world, pay any price, get God’s power and set the prisoners free.”
― John G. Lake
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
― C.S. Lewis
“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”
― Alistair Begg
"The point of your life is to point to Him."
― Francis Chan
"Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him."
― C. S. Lewis
“The key to usefulness in the Kingdom of God begins with self-forgetfulness.”
― John Calvin
“God sends people into our lives just when we need them, to say the right word, His word, just when we need it.”
― W. A. Criswell
“If you are not fishing (sharing the gospel), you are not following (Jesus).”
– Greg Brinson
"And I, I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus"
― Casting Crowns
“I’d rather have people hate me with the knowledge that I tried to save them.”
― Keith Green
Matthew 5 (NIV)
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
supporting scripture
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
- Revelation 5:9-10
Sing to the LORD; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods!
Psalm 96:2-4
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but
the workers are few."
Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Mark 16:15
"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ."
Colossians 1:27-28
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:14
Jesus said, "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me
before others,
the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God."
Luke 12:8
“for this is what the Lord has
commanded us:
I have made you a light for the gentiles, that you may bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.”
"Be merciful to those who doubt"
Jude 1:22
“ The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.”
― St. Francis de Sales
“There are few things that we can count on in this unpredictable life - but we can count on storms to come. We can also count on God’s continual and unfailing strength for those storms.”
– Mary Southerland
“God can use each and every person who surrenders her brokenness into His hands … no matter what. That is what the good news of Jesus is all about!”
― Gwen Smith
“Your problems are temporary, but God’s promises are eternal. His promises will outlive your problems and carry you to heaven, where there are no problems, no pain, no death, no tears.”
― Dr. David Jeremiah
“No matter what storm you face, you need to know that God loves you. He has not abandoned you.”
― Franklin Graham
“Brokenness is to give up all hope of attaining heaven by any measure of personal goodness. It is to lay down all trust in our own efforts. It is turning wholly to the victory of the cross of Christ, believing he is the only way. Finally, it means trusting him to empower us through his Spirit to live up to his claim on our lives.”
― David Wilkerson
“ The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.”
― St. Francis de Sales
“There are few things that we can count on in this unpredictable life - but we can count on storms to come. We can also count on God’s continual and unfailing strength for those storms.”
– Mary Southerland
“God can use each and every person who surrenders her brokenness into His hands … no matter what. That is what the good news of Jesus is all about!”
― Gwen Smith
“Your problems are temporary, but God’s promises are eternal. His promises will outlive your problems and carry you to heaven, where there are no problems, no pain, no death, no tears.”
― Dr. David Jeremiah
“No matter what storm you face, you need to know that God loves you. He has not abandoned you.”
― Franklin Graham
“Brokenness is to give up all hope of attaining heaven by any measure of personal goodness. It is to lay down all trust in our own efforts. It is turning wholly to the victory of the cross of Christ, believing he is the only way. Finally, it means trusting him to empower us through his Spirit to live up to his claim on our lives.”
― David Wilkerson
Psalm 34 (NIV)
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
supporting scripture
“so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for
I am your God. I will strengthen you and
help you;
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.”
"Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord
comforts his people and will have compassion on
his afflicted ones."
Psalm 42:11
"Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy."
Psalm 28:6
“Our sins twisted the crown of thorns; our sins drove the nails into his hands and feet; on account of our sins his blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin.”
― J.C. Ryle
“Jesus held back any words that would have relieved Him from the shame and blame of sin. He was not a sinner, but He took fully the sinner’s place.”
― Adrian Rogers
“No Christian is exempt from the battle with sin, and it’s wise to consider what and how we’re actively fighting each day. But we do not fight alone.”
― Kevin Halloran
“Heaven is not for good people, it’s for forgiven people.”
― Greg Laurie
“The cross guarantees that even in your darkest moment God will never turn in disgust and walk away. There is no rebellion, no weakness, no foolishness, no evil of heart that the cross can't defeat and grace can't transform.”
― Paul David Tripp
“The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man.”
― John Stott
"I have a great need for Christ, I have a great Christ for my need."
― Charles Spurgeon
“Our sins twisted the crown of thorns; our sins drove the nails into his hands and feet; on account of our sins his blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin.”
― J.C. Ryle
“Jesus held back any words that would have relieved Him from the shame and blame of sin. He was not a sinner, but He took fully the sinner’s place.”
― Adrian Rogers
“No Christian is exempt from the battle with sin, and it’s wise to consider what and how we’re actively fighting each day. But we do not fight alone.”
― Kevin Halloran
“Heaven is not for good people, it’s for forgiven people.”
― Greg Laurie
“The cross guarantees that even in your darkest moment God will never turn in disgust and walk away. There is no rebellion, no weakness, no foolishness, no evil of heart that the cross can't defeat and grace can't transform.”
― Paul David Tripp
“The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man.”
― John Stott
"I have a great need for Christ, I have a great Christ for my need."
― Charles Spurgeon
1 Timothy 1 (NIV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
.supporting scripture
"He Himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, “by His wounds you have been healed.”
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall."
Ezekiel 18:30
The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
Revelation 3:5
“When we are born again, a new life – the life of God – is put into us by The Holy Spirit.”
― F. B. Meyer
“Through Salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.”
― Rick Warren
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
― C.S. Lewis
“The pain of sacrificing our old selves is nothing compared to the joy of Christ living in us in our transformed lives.”
― A. W. Tozer
“Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it.”
― John Piper
“It’s hard for us to grasp that the moment we turn to Him in repentance he quickly and lovingly accepts us as if we had never sinned.”
―David Wilkerson
“The creation of a new heart, the renewing of a right spirit is an omnipotent work of God. Leave it to the Creator. He which hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto that day.”
― Henry Drummond
“As is true of man who is born naturally and receives a human nature from his parents, so man born anew receives a new nature, a new capacity for service and devotion to God.”
― John F. Walvoord
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”
― Charles Spurgeon
“The same Jesus who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.”
― Adrian Rogers
“The fear of God is the death of every other fear. Like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears away.”
― Charles Spurgeon
"God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way."
― Leighton Ford
“When we are born again, a new life – the life of God – is put into us by The Holy Spirit.”
― F. B. Meyer
“Through Salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.”
― Rick Warren
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
― C.S. Lewis
“The pain of sacrificing our old selves is nothing compared to the joy of Christ living in us in our transformed lives.”
― A. W. Tozer
“Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it.”
― John Piper
“It’s hard for us to grasp that the moment we turn to Him in repentance he quickly and lovingly accepts us as if we had never sinned.”
―David Wilkerson
“The creation of a new heart, the renewing of a right spirit is an omnipotent work of God. Leave it to the Creator. He which hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto that day.”
― Henry Drummond
“As is true of man who is born naturally and receives a human nature from his parents, so man born anew receives a new nature, a new capacity for service and devotion to God.”
― John F. Walvoord
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”
― Charles Spurgeon
“The same Jesus who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.”
― Adrian Rogers
“The fear of God is the death of every other fear. Like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears away.”
― Charles Spurgeon
"God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way."
― Leighton Ford
2 Corinthians 5 (NIV)
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
supporting scripture
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.."
"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
2 Corinthians 3:16
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:38
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."
Colossians 3:5
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning."
John 15:26-27
"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ."
Romans 8:9
“[Christ] wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim.”
― C.S. Lewis
“For Jesus, there is no better way to illustrate God’s free unmerited grace than pointing to a child. For unlike many adults, children are generally entirely unpretentious about receiving a gift. Moreover, “little ones,” that is, the least, regardless of age, are a repeated focus in Jesus’ teaching on discipleship (Mt. 18:5; Lk. 9:48). Indeed, God’s kingdom must be entered in a childlike spirit, a lesson that was yet to be learned by Jesus’ followers.”
― Andreas Kostenberger
“There is a God of awesome grace who meets his children in moments of darkness and difficulty. He is worth running to. He is worth waiting for. He brings rest when it seems like there is no rest to be found.”
― Paul David Tripp
“Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured in terms of obedience.”
― John Stott
“To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.”
― J. I. Packer
“God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant direct access to God. God loves mankind so much, and in a very special sense, His children. That He has made Himself available to you at all times.”
― Wesley L. Duewel
“Real true faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength.”
― Dwight L. Moody
“Although a Christian should believe simply, he should not ‘simply believe.”
― Os Guinness
“[Christ] wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim.”
― C.S. Lewis
“For Jesus, there is no better way to illustrate God’s free unmerited grace than pointing to a child. For unlike many adults, children are generally entirely unpretentious about receiving a gift. Moreover, “little ones,” that is, the least, regardless of age, are a repeated focus in Jesus’ teaching on discipleship (Mt. 18:5; Lk. 9:48). Indeed, God’s kingdom must be entered in a childlike spirit, a lesson that was yet to be learned by Jesus’ followers.”
― Andreas Kostenberger
“There is a God of awesome grace who meets his children in moments of darkness and difficulty. He is worth running to. He is worth waiting for. He brings rest when it seems like there is no rest to be found.”
― Paul David Tripp
“Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured in terms of obedience.”
― John Stott
“To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.”
― J. I. Packer
“God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant direct access to God. God loves mankind so much, and in a very special sense, His children. That He has made Himself available to you at all times.”
― Wesley L. Duewel
“Real true faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength.”
― Dwight L. Moody
“Although a Christian should believe simply, he should not ‘simply believe.”
― Os Guinness
Matthew 19:13-30 (NIV)
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[c] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
supporting scripture
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. There fore,
whoever takes
the lowly position
of this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.
and whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.”
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
1 John 3:1
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."
Romans 8:14-16
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
1 John 2:1
“We find Christ in all the Scriptures. In the Old Testament He is predicted, in the Gospels He is revealed, in Acts He is preached, in the epistles He is explained, and in Revelation He is expected.”
― Alistair Begg
“The overarching message of the Bible is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
― Paul Tripp
“The Bible teaches that Jesus is called God, the Lord Almighty, Israel's King and Redeemer, the Rock, the First and Last, the Alpha and the Omega, and the Beginning and the End. These passages should remove any doubt that Jesus existed long before He was born of Mary!”
― Larry W. Wilson
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
― Abraham Kuyper
“Christ is the Word of God. It is not in certain texts written in the New Testament, valuable as they are; it is not in certain words which Jesus spoke, vast as is their preciousness; it is in the Word, which Jesus is, that the great manifestation of God is made.”
― Phillips Brooks
“Nowhere do Jesus or the apostles ever treat the Old Testament as human reflections on the divine. It is instead the voice of the Holy Spirit and God’s own breath.”
― Kevin DeYoung
“It's natural to be skeptical of a story like Noah. However, the greatest miracle in the Bible is not Noah and the flood. The greatest miracle in the Bible is recorded in the first verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If that miracle is true, then every miracle in the Bible is at least possible (including Noah's Ark). If God created the universe, then He can do whatever He wants inside it.”
― Frank Turek
"The revelation of God starts with creation, but it doesn't end there. God is personal. In the teaching, life and work of Jesus Christ, God communicated everything he desired. Creation is God's general revelation, but Jesus Christ is God's personal message to us."
― Carey Kinsolving
“Now, if it were the case that Christianity were true, would you want to know it?”
― Nabeel Qureshi
“We find Christ in all the Scriptures. In the Old Testament He is predicted, in the Gospels He is revealed, in Acts He is preached, in the epistles He is explained, and in Revelation He is expected.”
― Alistair Begg
“The overarching message of the Bible is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
― Paul Tripp
“The Bible teaches that Jesus is called God, the Lord Almighty, Israel's King and Redeemer, the Rock, the First and Last, the Alpha and the Omega, and the Beginning and the End. These passages should remove any doubt that Jesus existed long before He was born of Mary!”
― Larry W. Wilson
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
― Abraham Kuyper
“Christ is the Word of God. It is not in certain texts written in the New Testament, valuable as they are; it is not in certain words which Jesus spoke, vast as is their preciousness; it is in the Word, which Jesus is, that the great manifestation of God is made.”
― Phillips Brooks
“Nowhere do Jesus or the apostles ever treat the Old Testament as human reflections on the divine. It is instead the voice of the Holy Spirit and God’s own breath.”
― Kevin DeYoung
“It's natural to be skeptical of a story like Noah. However, the greatest miracle in the Bible is not Noah and the flood. The greatest miracle in the Bible is recorded in the first verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If that miracle is true, then every miracle in the Bible is at least possible (including Noah's Ark). If God created the universe, then He can do whatever He wants inside it.”
― Frank Turek
"The revelation of God starts with creation, but it doesn't end there. God is personal. In the teaching, life and work of Jesus Christ, God communicated everything he desired. Creation is God's general revelation, but Jesus Christ is God's personal message to us."
― Carey Kinsolving
“Now, if it were the case that Christianity were true, would you want to know it?”
― Nabeel Qureshi
John 1 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses;grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
supporting scripture
Jesus said, "I and the Father are one.”
John 10:30
Jesus said, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
John 17:5
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 1:8
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds," and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:4-8
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
John 8:58
“For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side.”
– C. S. Lewis
“The first time [Christ] came to slay sin in men. The second time He will come to slay men in sin.”
― Arthur W. Pink
“What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools.”
– Martin Luther
“While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, this will be impossible.”
― Michael Youssef
“The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”
― Billy Graham
“One day the truth of your faith or the evil of your deception will be revealed.”
― John MacArthur
“The second coming of Christ shall be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant, born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He shall come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized and feared, by all the tribes of the earth.
“He came the first time to suffer – to bear our sins, to be reckoned a curse, to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned and slain. He shall come the second time to reign – to put down every enemy beneath His feet, to take the kingdom of this world for His inheritance, to rule them with righteousness, to judge all men and to live forevermore.
“How vast the difference! How mighty the contrast!”
― John Charles Ryle
"Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments."
― C. S. Lewis
“We are told in Scripture that there will be signs points toward the return of the Lord. I believe that we see those signs in the world today. I believe that the coming of the Lord is near."
― Billy Graham
"Many believe that that they have placed themselves in a sort of safe harbor if they are "neutral" in regard to a decision for Christ. Since they haven't actually rejected the idea of Jesus, they think Heaven is their default destination. The Bible teaches that this is not true (see John 3:18) ...
A lack of a decision is in fact, a decision."
― Bill Wiese
“For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side.”
– C. S. Lewis
“The first time [Christ] came to slay sin in men. The second time He will come to slay men in sin.”
― Arthur W. Pink
“What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools.”
– Martin Luther
“While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, this will be impossible.”
― Michael Youssef
“The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”
― Billy Graham
“One day the truth of your faith or the evil of your deception will be revealed.”
― John MacArthur
“The second coming of Christ shall be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant, born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He shall come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized and feared, by all the tribes of the earth.
“He came the first time to suffer – to bear our sins, to be reckoned a curse, to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned and slain. He shall come the second time to reign – to put down every enemy beneath His feet, to take the kingdom of this world for His inheritance, to rule them with righteousness, to judge all men and to live forevermore.
“How vast the difference! How mighty the contrast!”
― John Charles Ryle
"Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments."
― C. S. Lewis
“We are told in Scripture that there will be signs points toward the return of the Lord. I believe that we see those signs in the world today. I believe that the coming of the Lord is near."
― Billy Graham
"Many believe that that they have placed themselves in a sort of safe harbor if they are "neutral" in regard to a decision for Christ. Since they haven't actually rejected the idea of Jesus, they think Heaven is their default destination. The Bible teaches that this is not true (see John 3:18) ...
A lack of a decision is in fact, a decision."
― Bill Wiese
Revelation 22:20-21
Revelation 22(NIV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
supporting scripture
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your LORD will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."
supporting scripture
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46