It is not unChristian or unspiritual or uncommon for people to be discouraged at times.
Galations 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but DON'T QUIT
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he just stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned upside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worse that YOU MUST NOT QUIT
Anomymous
God sees every man either in Adam or in Christ. If He sees us in Adam, He sees us dead IN sin. If He sees us in Christ, He sees us dead TO sin.
Galations 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The Christian life is not an improvement plan to do better and try harder. Once you receive Christ you can say, "Jesus Christ lives in me."
Christ gives us a new desire for holiness, for God and for heaven. It is not that we cannot sin again, but we do not want to. The whole attitude of our life has been changed.
I am crucified with Jesus, and the cross has set me free.
I have risen again with Jesus, and He lives and reigns in me.
It is sweet to die with Jesus, to the world and self and sin
It is sweet to live with Jesus as He lives and reigns within
The most powerful sentence in the Bible summarizes the gospel of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God loves people of all colors, Christians, pagans, the good, the bad, the ugly, the rich, the poor, and children.
Here is a most profound statement: Jesus loves me, this i know, for the Bible tells me so.
Here is a most profound love song:
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky
Oh, Love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong.
It shall forevermore endure the saints and angels song.
Frederick M. Lehman
Churches become a social place when people seek entertainment, focus on personalities, relationships and programs rather than being centered on the will of God. It is God's will that the assembly be filled, controlled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God does not fill bricks, mortar, wood, carpet, upholstery, and pews. It fills the hearts of individuals.
Christians should be committed to the spiritual ministry of the church. Whether teaching a Sunday school class, greeting visitors with a warm smile and welcome hand shake, cleaning toilets or teaching thousands; believers are to fulfill their God-given ministry by the power of God.
We go to church to worship God and grow in Him. That drives us to love each other and have sweet fellowship.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Man's greatest need has been the same throughout history. The world needs a Savior. God's Word still meets that need. The Bible is relevant because it contains in it''s pages the message of eternal life.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Inspired Scripture means "God-breathed". The Word of God is accompanied by the comforting, convicting presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
God's Word is life changing. It is a mirror that reveals the sin in our lives.
God's Word is a healing balm, offering medicine for the soul. It helps us to heal and learn from our mistakes.
God's Word is the voice of wisdom, shining a light, pointing the way.
When we give ourselves to reading, studying, and living the Word of God, it grows us up and equips us for produtive lives.
The following was found on the web: "A fundamentalist is a Christian who believes in the Bible word-for-word. They are generally racist and homophobic."
This statement is not about the fundamentalist, but the fundamentals of our faith. We should study the following fundamentals in the Bible.
1. The infallible Scriptures
2. The virgin birth and the deity of Christ
3. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement by God's grace and through human faith
4. The bodily resurrection of Jesus
5. The authenticity of Christ's miracles and His pre-millennial second coming
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Are we rightly dividing the Word of God? Before and after Scriptures usually answer these questions. Seek the true meaning of words and overall truths. When studying Scripture always ask:
Who is speaking?
Who is being spoken to?
What is the occasion?
Why is it being said?
What about your personal theology? Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?
Loyalty to Jesus Christ comes at a price. There are many Christians today who want the label of Christian, but they want little to do with the life of a Christian. Faithfully serving the Lord is the most important thing we do on this earth.
Someone said, "They that deny themselves for Christ shall enjoy themselves in Christ." The first day in Heaven will repay the most difficult and bitter experience we are called to suffer for the sake of following Jesus.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The faithful Christian is strong in The Lord. They give their best.
God will help you become all you need to be if you will submit to Him.
The gospel message ("Good News") does not flatter humanity. It tells us that we are not good enough for Heaven as we are, but are sinners worthy of Hell. Thank God for salvation and grace.
Because of human reasoning and pride, the gospel message tempts many Christians to be ashamed of it. The apostle Paul was not ashamed.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Preachers who go soft on sin and never preach about Hell are ashamed of the gospel. Believers who fail to witness when the opportunity presents itself are ashamed of the gospel.
When everything comes down, when all men fail, Jesus will still be standing.
A close, daily relationship with God will make us unashamed of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ -- our merciful Redeemer, our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, our God, and our strength?
Are you afraid of the boogieman in the dark or the monster under the bed? Hopefully, we out-grew that. We did, didn't we?
The adult version is fear of the unknown -- Iran, health, finances or whatever is in your fear box. Fear will torment you if you let it. You don't have to be afraid.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
In times of fear, the "Spirit of God's power" is the voice of faith. It speaks to our hearts in the heat of fear and says, "God can!" God can what? God can take care of the unknown problem and your fear. Because God can -- you can.
The way to overcome our fears is to release the "Spirit of power" within us by faith. We can be sure of God's power when we are doing His work, proclaiming His Word, and representing His kingdom..
1 John 4:16,18 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear . . .
