“No matter how formless, dark, or empty we are, God is in the business of transforming broken humanity. He will ultimately shape us to reflect His image, declaring us ‘Very Good.’” – Zac Poonen
“Those who live according to the spirit never feel at home in the world and always long to come back to the fellowship of God’s people in the church.” – Zac Poonen
“Atheism and Spirituality are like black and white that can be seen clearly but Religiosity and Spirituality are like cream and white that can be distinguishable only in bright light.” – Zac Poonen
“The crucifixion of Christ was the worst event in history—there was no greater crime ever committed on earth. Yet, it was also the best event in history—because through it, redemption was made possible for humanity. In His infinite wisdom, God transformed the worst into the best. And this God is our God.” – Zac Poonen
“The motto of Babylon is ‘In the beginning man’ - Babylon is built on ‘From man, through man and to man’. The motto of Jerusalem is ‘In the beginning God’ - Jerusalem is built on ‘From God, through God and to God’.” – Zac Poonen
“A man can be led astray through the scripture if he does not know the scriptures well. The whole truth is not found in one scripture alone but in the whole of the scriptures - one verse balanced out by another verse.” – Zac Poonen
“Christians who live by upright principles and rules are the biggest hindrance to God’s work. The man who is most useful to God is the one who listens to the Holy Spirit.” – Zac Poonen
“The earthly minded want to go to heaven when they die, but they don’t want the kingdom of heaven now. The heavenly minded want to taste heaven now before entering heaven fully.” – Zac Poonen
“It is only the Spirit of God in man that lifts him above the level of animals. If we stop living by the Spirit of God, we will quickly descend to that same level.” – Zac Poonen
“Let no father or mother be proud of children who are doing well out in the world if they don’t have the first mark of divine wisdom in their life…..’A wise son makes a father glad but a foolish son is a grief to his mother’ (Prbs 10:1).” – Zac Poonen
“The fear of death is the possession of an ungodly person. The godly ones never need to be afraid as to ‘When will I die’, ‘How will I die’, ‘Where will I die’.” – Zac Poonen
“If you will not have death unto sin, you shall have sin unto death. There is no alternative. If you do not die to sin, you shall die for sin. If you do not slay sin, sin will slay you.” – Charles Spurgeon
“When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible man, and he crushes him.” – Alan Redpath
“The words we speak are like seeds—once sown in places like the office, home, or church, they cannot be taken back. When sown wisely, they yield goodness and peace.” – Zac Poonen
“When a man prioritizes his love for his wife over his love for Jesus Christ, his love will fluctuate based on her actions. But if he loves Jesus Christ wholeheartedly and no place for anyone, his love for his wife will remain constant and unwavering.” – Zac Poonen
“It is not enough to avoid evil. The heart that has been cleansed of evil must be filled with God’s Word then the blessing of God will be upon the work of our hands and the words we speak.” – Zac Poonen
“I won’t fight or grab for earthly things. Let the world and worldly Christian’s have what they want. I’ll take what’s left over. And from the leftovers, God will make room for me and I will be fruitful in the land.” – Zac Poonen
“Outward righteousness belongs to the earthly, while inward righteousness is of the heavenly. True holiness starts from within, and every aspect of our lives should flow from the transformation of our hearts.” – Zac Poonen
“God’s work must be carried out without compromising spiritual principles. It is far better to devote our entire lives to constructing a small structure of gold, silver, and precious stones than to build a massive one of wood, hay, and straw that will ultimately be consumed on the final day.” – Zac Poonen
“A man says to me, ‘Can you explain the seven trumpets of the Revelation?’ No, but I can blow one in your ear, and warn you to escape from the wrath to come.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Someone once told me, ‘Ray, you’re a man of great faith in God,’ thinking they were paying me a compliment. They weren’t. What if I said to you, ‘I’m a man of great faith in my doctor’? It’s a compliment to the doctor. If I have great faith in him as being a man of integrity, a man of great ability, a trustworthy. I give ‘glory’ to the man through my faith in him. Abraham was a man of great faith in God. Remember, that is not a compliment to Abraham. He merely caught a glimpse of God’s ability, his impeccable integrity, and his wonderful faithfulness to keep every promise he makes. Abraham’s faith gave ‘glory’ to a faithful God (Rom 4:20,21).” – Ray Comfort
“A man who puts God first in every area of his life - in business, in finances and daily life - there will be no limit to what God will do in and through such a person.” – Zac Poonen
“A person who feels happy at another’s misfortune may not be entirely wicked, but there is a trace of wickedness within him that needs to be cleansed out. A truly righteous person desires only good for others.” – Zac Poonen
“Correction reveals the true state of our heart, often exposing the pride hidden within those who believe they are humble.” – Zac Poonen
“No one can hinder God’s plan for your life. The only person who can mess up God’s plan for your life is you yourself.” – Zac Poonen
“If you have gifts without fruit, you can end up in hell. But if you have fruit without gifts, you will certainly enter God’s kingdom (Matt 7:22,23).” – Zac Poonen
“In your presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). ‘Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God.’” – Elisabeth Elliot
“The wicked may appear to have the life of Jesus, but it flickers out in moments of trial and temptation, whereas the righteous shine even brighter when tested.” – Zac Poonen
“‘They shackled Joseph’s feet with chains, but during his time in prison, iron entered his soul. Until God’s appointed time, Joseph was tested. Then, God’s word came and set him free’ (Psalm 105:18-19, free paraphrased). God is always on time—never late. He has determined a specific duration for all our trials, and during that period, He tests us. But if we remain faithful, by the end of it, iron will have entered our soul, making us strong in faith.” – Zac Poonen
“Did those blind men need a miracle? Yes. Did Jesus want to do a miracle for them? Yes. But yet the miracle would not have happened without their faith. Do you need a miracle from God? Yes. Does God want to do miracle for you? Yes. But you still may not get it, if you don’t have faith.” – Zac Poonen
“Man is born spiritually blind, which leads him to misplace his life’s priorities. However, Jesus taught what the highest priorities should be. To Martha, He said, ‘One thing is needful.’ To the rich young man, He said, ‘One thing thou lackest.’ With these words, He highlighted what should take first place in each of their lives. David had his priorities in order, declaring, ‘One thing have I desired.’ Likewise, Paul succeeded in putting the most important thing first, saying, ‘One thing I do.’ Today, the Spirit of God is calling all His children to re-evaluate their priorities.” – Zac Poonen
“The world seeks laughter, while the church speaks of joy. Laughter comes through entertainment, but true joy comes through the cross.” – Zac Poonen
“A man becomes a backslider, and his life turns boring when he pulls back from suffering and self-denial in moments of temptation. However, his life becomes exciting when he embraces these moments as a challenge and an opportunity to take up the cross.” – Zac Poonen
“When a man shouts and loses his temper, listen closely—you will hear him declaring, ‘I am a fool!’ Did you catch that? Listen again: ‘I am a fool!’ Anger has found a permanent home in the hearts of millions of Adam’s children. But once we become children of God, His desire is for us to drive it out through the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Zac Poonen
“A three-year-old boy was once staring at a heater, fascinated by its bright orange glow. His father saw him and warned, do not touch that heater, son. It may look pretty, but its hot. The little boy believed him and moved away from the heater. Some time later, after his father had left the room, the boy thought, I wonder if its really hot. He reached out to touch it and see for himself. The second his flesh burned, he stopped believing it was hot. He now knew it was hot. He had moved out of the realm of belief into the realm of experience. Christians believed in God’s existence before their conversion. However, when they obeyed the word of God, turned from their sins, and embraced Jesus Christ, they stopped merely believing. The moment they reached out and touched the heater bar of God’s mercy, they moved out of belief into the realm of experience. This experience is so radical, Jesus referred to it as being ‘born again’. Suppose two people, heater manufacturer and skin specialist walked into the room just after that child had burned his hand on the heater. Both assured the boy that he couldn’t possibly have been burned. But all the experts, theories and arguments in the world will not dissuade that boy, because of his experience. Those who have been transformed by God’s power need never fear scientific or other arguments, because the man with an experience is not at the mercy of a man with an argument. Those who now have God’s spirit living in them will love what he loves and desire to do his will. They will have hunger for his word, a love for other believers and a burden for the lost. The holy spirit also confirms in their spirit that they are now children of God (Rom 8:16).” – Zac Poonen
“The mind of the Israelites who lived under the old covenant was set on physical and material blessings—on property, healing and prosperity. Conversion to Christ should bring a change in our way of thinking, a change of mind. ‘Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are in the earth’ (Col 3:2) for ‘the things that are seen are temporal while the things that are unseen are eternal (2Corinth 4:18)’.” – Zac Poonen
“‘Go to the ant, you lazy man, and learn from it — how it stores up its food in summer for the winter’ (Proverbs 6:6-8). Apply this truth spiritually: When you have plenty of opportunity to study God’s word and to become spiritually rich thereby, use your time wisely. Then, many years later when you don’t have much time to study the word, because of pressures of life, you will have plenty of wisdom to fall back on. The wisdom from God’s word that you store up now will not only satisfy you fully, you will also have plenty to share with others as well.” – Zac Poonen
“The truths you hear in the Church are received second-hand. It’s essential to take those teachings before the Lord and pray, ‘Lord, make this truth personal and real in my own life.’ Then those truths will be yours forever. If you don’t do that, then even the truths you receive from heaven will become stale — like the manna sent from heaven began to breed worms within 24 hours. But the manna that was kept in God’s presence remained fresh at all times.” – Zac Poonen
“When we see everything eye to eye, loving and fellowshipping with one another is easy. However, God, knowing the future, allowed certain things to remain vague. As a result, different denominations have emerged. This, in turn, serves as a test of our love for fellow believers across various denominations.” – Zac Poonen
“‘It was God who sent me before you (Gen 45:5)’. ‘God sent me before you (Verse 7)’. ‘God sent me (Verse 8)’. Joseph was telling his brothers, ‘It was not you who sold me to the Ishmaelites, it was God. It was not Potiphar’s wife who sent me to the jail, it was God.’ Blessed indeed are those who see God in all his ways — even in the evil that others do to him.” – Zac Poonen
“Externally, a Christian must always be a man of peace. But inwardly, he must do violence to everything that stands in the way of his following the Lord — he must stand strongly against the lusts in his flesh, against sin and against Satan.” – Zac Poonen
“Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a man who discovers a hidden treasure in a field. In his joy, he sells everything he owns to buy that field (Matthew 13:44). A person who loves Jesus should be willing to sacrifice all that is valuable to him in order to be a disciple of Jesus and inherit God’s kingdom.” – Zac Poonen
“‘When we no longer seek God for his blessings, we have time to seek him for Himself.’” – Oswald Chambers
“Jesus overcame temptation through the power of God. If we rely on that same power, we too can overcome as He did—but only if we keep our focus on Him (Revelation 3:21, Hebrews 12:1-2). If however, we look at the sub-standard level that other Christian’s live at, or even the examples of godly men under the old covenant, we will fail to overcome.” – Zac Poonen
“Many are satisfied with forgiveness of their sins. If this was God’s plan then major portion of the New Testament can be thrown away as unnecessary. God doesn’t want us to stop with forgiveness of their sins or being born again and live on milk ever after. He wants us to grow upto maturity. The more we grow the more effective our testimony will be to others.” – Zac Poonen
“When Adam sinned, God cursed only the ground, but when Cain sinned, God cursed Cain himself. The reason is that Adam’s sin primarily affected himself, while Cain’s sin harmed another person. Similarly, many believers are more shocked to see a fellow Christian drunk than to hear them speaking ill of someone. They may also view smoking as a greater sin than losing their temper at others. However, while all sin dishonors God, He takes most seriously the sins that harm others. A true Christian reflects God’s mercy by being compassionate toward others, just as God has been merciful to him.” – Zac Poonen
“If we are born again then our names were in God’s Book of Life in his mind before Genesis 1:1, before he created anything. That is why we need never get discouraged. We are special to God.” – Zac Poonen
“The man-centered gospel focuses on human desires, promising that God will provide everything needed for a comfortable life on earth while guaranteeing a place in heaven. It teaches that Jesus will forgive all sins, heal all diseases, grant material prosperity, and resolve all worldly problems. In contrast, the God-centered gospel calls for true repentance. It demands turning away from self-centered living, surrendering personal will, forsaking worldly ambitions, rejecting the love of money, and breaking free from earthly attachments. Instead, it invites believers to turn fully to God, love Him with all their heart, make Him the center of their lives, and commit to following His will completely.” – Zac Poonen
“God is in the business of separating light from darkness from the beginning, while man is trying to unite everything together. The Lord says ‘come out of Babylon, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished along with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God is ready to judge her for her crimes’ (Rev 18:4,5 - Living). Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt 5:16).” – Zac Poonen
“Once someone asked a question to Socrates (Greek Philosopher, wisest man in Greece), What is the difference between him and other people and he said like this, ‘The difference is this: all of us know nothing. They know nothing and I know nothing. The only difference is that I know that I know nothing.’ A wise man is the man who recognizes that he really knows nothing compared to the ocean of God’s wisdom. He has a few little drops inside his cup compared to God’s ocean of wisdom. Solomon Says, ‘Don’t be wise in your own eyes’ but rather, am I fearing the Lord more and more? Am I turning away from evil? Then we are alright.” – Zac Poonen
“A mind focused on man’s interests—such as personal comfort and convenience—leads to destruction. But a mind set on God’s interests—such as partaking of God’s nature—leads to life.” – Zac Poonen
“Walk as Jesus did during His time on earth. Wherever He went, demons trembled, and Satan feared Him. Likewise, we are called to walk with the same authority and faith. ‘Every place that the sole of your foot treads upon, I have given you’ (Joshua 1:3).” – Zac Poonen
“‘It is better to be divided by truth than united in error; It is better to speak truth that hurts and then heals than to speak a lie; It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie; It is better to stand alone with truth that to be wrong with the multitude….. The religion of today is get-alongism; It is time for men and women of God to stand, even if they have to stand alone.’” – Adrian Rogers
“Paul and Barnabas made a mistake that led Tobiasvision between them, but God turned their mistakes for furtherance of the Gospel by forming two missionary teams instead of one—Paul with Silas and Barnabas with Mark. In the same way, God can turn our mistakes into opportunities for His purpose. Praise the Lord!” – Zac Poonen
“Sometimes, we can be good Buddhists practicing great self-control, holding back our responses to 25 hurtful remarks. But eventually, just one sentence slips out—and that single moment can undo all our prior restraint. It’s like a concentrated dose of poison at the tip of a dart. Why do you let him ignite your stove? If he chooses to kindle his own stove, that’s his business. I choose to die there.” – Zac Poonen
“A true Christian embodies both boldness and humility—standing as a fearless warrior against Satan and his evil forces, yet surrendering as a helpless child before Almighty God. Maintain this dual attitude always.” – Zac Poonen
“Under the Old Covenant, the emphasis was on meditation on the law. But under the New Covenant, the emphasis is on getting Revelation from the Holy Spirit on the Word. Under the Old Covenant, the important thing was to know the scriptures. But under the New Covenant, the important thing is to know God Himself.” – Zac Poonen
“Doors may look to be closed in front of us. But as we approach them in clear conscience, they will open automatically. But they won’t open until we come near them. ‘As you go step by step the way will open up before you’ (Prb 4:12). Take the step God shows you ‘I have put before you an open door’, says the Lord, ‘Which no-one can shut’ (Rev 3:8).” – Zac Poonen
“The greatest power that God ever manifested in this universe was not his creation, but the resurrection of Jesus. Now, God desires that we experience this same power through the Holy Spirit, freeing us from the law of sin and spiritual death.” – Zac Poonen
“The messages of the devil and Jesus may sound alike: ‘You can be like God.’ However, the difference lies in their intent. Satan tempts us to be like God in knowledge, authority, and power, while Jesus calls us to be like God in humility, purity, and love.” – Zac Poonen
“‘I will bring you out of Egypt.’ ‘I will bring you into Canaan.’ While God fulfilled the first promise for the Israelites, the second was fulfilled to those who responded in faith. God’s promise and our faith are like two wires in a switch—when they connect, power is released. We can hear and understand God’s promises, but they are fulfilled only when our faith reaches out and declares, ‘Yes, I believe.’” – Zac Poonen
“If a wife’s cooking isn’t upto the mark, never mind! If you truly love each other, even a simple meal of herbs is reason to praise the Lord. What matters most is enjoying the meal together and nurturing your relationship. It’s far better to have peace and fellowship with your wife than to create unrest in an effort to make her a good cook.” – Zac Poonen
“The person who understands the secret of rejoicing in the Lord and recognizes that everything happening to them is ultimately for their good (Romans 8:28) will never be discouraged. However, someone with a negative attitude toward life will always feel like everything is going wrong.” – Zac Poonen
“A preacher once received a fancy watch as a gift from his father. However, whenever he preached, he noticed that people were more focused on his watch than on his message. He felt a gentle prompting in his spirit saying, ‘Take that off.’ At first, he questioned it, thinking, ‘Can’t I wear something my father gave me?’ But then he realized that even something as small as a watch could become a distraction. By choosing to remove it in obedience to that inner prompting, he allowed God to lead him more effectively—and that obedience opened the door for greater blessings in his life later on.” – Zac Poonen
“True wisdom and maturity are marked not just by saying the right thing, but by saying it at the right time. It’s not enough to give advice — timing matters just as much. Sometimes, you may feel to write something to someone, but if the Holy Spirit says ‘No,’ you hold back. You might have written the right words, but if the timing isn’t right, you don’t send it. It’s a reminder that even the right message, shared at the wrong time, can miss its purpose.” – Zac Poonen
“Adam was formed from the dust and received spirit from above. Our body made from dust—naturally pulls us downward, while the spirit draws us upward toward God. The soul, positioned between the body and the spirit, is left with the choice: which way shall I respond? The secret to rising toward God is letting go of the weights (earthly attractions) that drag us down. Even if we’re zealous for Him, holding on to those weights will only slow our upward journey.” – Zac Poonen
“Men are mirrors, or carriers of Christ to other men. Usually it is those who know him who bring him to others. That’s why the Church, the whole body of Christians showing him to one another, is so important. The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” – C.S. Lewis
“Satan is often closer than we realize—just as close as the staff was to Moses. He is nearby, eager to stir up conflict between spouses, colleagues, friends etc.. But we can overcome when we flee from temptation, and remind Satan that he is already a defeated foe. The very thing that Satan uses to try and frighten us, will become a rod of authority in our hand — to split the seas and to lead God’s people forward.” – Zac Poonen
“When Moses drew his hand from his bosom, it was leprous—reminding us that in our flesh, nothing good dwells. If you doubt that, just put your hand inside your flesh and see! Ask God to reveal the hidden leprosy within. The truth is, there is no sin that others commit which we ourselves are incapable of. Never judge or condemn others as if their flesh is worse than yours.” – Zac Poonen
“To the Egyptians, the Nile was a treasured god—but when it turned to blood, it became a symbol of death. Spiritual Meaning: All the things of this world that people chase after and worship must be poured out unto death in our lives. What the world offers is no longer refreshing water to us, but like blood—that we are not even tempted to drink. I must be crucified to the world, and the world must be crucified to me.” – Zac Poonen
“Jesus said, ‘Learn From Me’ (Matt 11:29) and ‘Follow Me’ (Mark 1:17). A true disciple is both a learner and a follower. In the army, soldiers march to the rhythm, ‘left, right, left, right.’ In the Christian walk, our rhythm must be, ‘learn, follow, learn, follow’ — all the way until Christ returns. If someone only learns but doesn’t follow, they’re like a soldier trying to march using only the left foot — moving to the command, ‘left, left, left, left.’ That’s not a march — it’s just going in circles.” – Zac Poonen
“We are not called to live the Christian life in isolation, but in fellowship with others. While it may feel easier to go it alone—doing what we want, when we want, without being accountable to anyone—that path will finally destroy him. Seek genuine fellowship and that will be for your salvation. Find a godly brother you can walk with and be willing to submit to spiritual guidance. In times of weakness, their faith can help carry you through.” – Zac Poonen
“Just as a potter doesn’t shape every vessel the same way, God also designs each of us differently. Don’t ask God to mold your ministry to look like someone else’s. When you try to imitate another person’s calling, you will hinder the shape God is trying to make out of you. Embrace the shape He’s forming — because GOD WANTS YOU TO BE YOU.” – Zac Poonen
“There are two kinds of anger—one that is sinful and one that is not. Anger becomes sinful when it arises from personal offense, as a reaction to what others say or do to us. However, it is not sinful when it is born out of a righteous concern, such as seeing the dishonor of God’s name or the hard-heartedness shown toward the poor and exploiting them for their money.” – Zac Poonen
“A humble, God-fearing, and wise man will say, ‘Even though I don’t see anything wrong in what I’m doing, I acknowledge that I have blind spots.’ He seeks God’s light through his word. A person cannot rightly judge himself unless he is rooted in the Word of God. One who attempts self-judgment without the Word is like a good Buddhist, relying on his own soul power for cleansing. But that is not the New and Living Way. The true path is walking in the light, as He is in the light.” – Zac Poonen
“Jesus used a cushion in the boat when it was readily available—He didn’t choose to sleep on the hard floor. True spirituality is not asceticism, but walking as Jesus walked.” – Zac Poonen
“Belief in Jesus without repentance is a hoax—a deception from the devil. Anyone who truly sees that their sin nailed Jesus to the cross can no longer love sin but will naturally turn away from it.” – Zac Poonen
“Don’t envy someone who constantly hears specific leading like, ‘Go here’ or ‘Go there.’ That isn’t the highest form of guidance. True maturity is when God trusts us to make wise decisions. As we grow spiritually, God often speaks less about specific details, allowing us to choose for ourselves. He desires to treat us as mature adults. So, make your plans by seeking the Kingdom of God first and carefully considering spiritual principles in everything you do.” – Zac Poonen
“A true God fearing Christian is more disturbed when he has cheated a person of fifty paise than if somebody else cheated him of 1000rs. There was a Christian cobbler who always used the best leather to repair the shoes, unlike all the other cobblers who were using cheap leather. One day his assistant asked him, ‘why do you do that? You’re losing such a lot of money.’ He said, ‘I believe in the day of judgement when I stand before Christ, there will be a big pile of shoes there — all the shoes I repaired. And Jesus will pick them up one by one and say, “John, that wasn’t a good job you did on this shoe.” What will I answer him — that all the other cobblers did that? Whatever your job may be, remember — one day you will give an account to God for how you’ve done it.’” – Zac Poonen
“The more we are broken, the more God can use us to be a blessing to others. - Only when the rock was smitten the waters began to flow. - Only when the vial was broken the sweet odour filled the house. - Only when the bread was broken 5000 were fed. Message is this: Brokenness is the way of blessing and God’s power is released through brokenness.” – Zac Poonen
“Through God’s wisdom, material things were created, yet the foolish prioritize material possessions over wisdom.” – Zac Poonen
“‘The best thing a city can have is a living church of Jesus Christ in its midst’ and it’s through a man’s righteousness, uprightness and godliness that a blessing comes upon a City and not through any jing-bang-lot.” – Zac Poonen
“Christians imagine that they can serve God just because they have Bible-knowledge, musical ability and plenty of money. But they’re mistaken. They need to learn a lesson from Moses’ life: 40 years of the best that this world could give him could not prepare him for God’s service. What all the universities in Egypt could not teach Moses, he learnt in the wilderness and God said ‘You are Ready’.” – Zac Poonen
“A man who trusts in God’s promises (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 8:28) will not fall to the temptation of retaliating against a godless person who seeks to harm the righteous with all kinds of evil.” – Zac Poonen
“Everyone runs his own life. In the midst of such people, God has a remnant who do not run their own lives. They are under the government of heaven. That is the church.” – Zac Poonen
“Turning the tables on Satan and using Satan’s schemes to fulfil God’s purposes shows God’s almighty power far greater than if He had simply destroyed or restrained Satan’s work.” – Zac Poonen
“A broken man is a tremendous vessel of weapon in God’s hands against the enemy.” – Zac Poonen
“David served in his own generation by doing the will of God and then fell asleep (Acts 13:36). Now we are all called to fulfill God’s will in our own generation. Ensure that you complete all that He has entrusted to you before you depart from this earth. To do so, you must be like David, of whom God declared: ‘I have found David, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’ (Acts 13:22).” – Zac Poonen
“The wicked cannot sleep until they commit evil for the day (Proverbs 4:16). Let the reverse be true for us: a person in Christ cannot sleep until they have done some good for someone.” – Zac Poonen
“Those who serve the Lord with a desire for reward will receive their reward last, but those who serve Him out of gratitude and joy, without seeking anything in return, will receive the greatest reward in heaven. What matters most is the motive behind our service. On the final day, ’WHY’ we did what we did will carry far more weight than ’WHAT’ we did.” – Zac Poonen
“Don’t turn your eyes and look at her beauty, saying, ‘Well, I’m not lusting. I’m only admiring the beauty’. That is a terrific deception and God sees it! Don’t even admire it, that’s wisdom if you want to take it.” – Zac Poonen
“The secret of the power of the early church was not only the fullness of the Holy Spirit, but also the fact that they were of one heart and one soul.” – Zac Poonen
“My daily quota of evil—whether from people, circumstances, the devil, or the desires of the flesh—can be transformed into God’s wisdom and glory if I choose to take up my cross each day.” – Zac Poonen
“In Short, the Full Gospel is ‘I can be forgiven, and I can be saved from sin’. However, many people experience only the forgiveness part, while few also experience salvation from sin. In a certain mental institution, they use a simple test to determine whether a man has regained his senses. They put him in a room with a tap open, a faucet open, and the water flowing, and they give him a bucket and a mop to dry the floor. And if he tries to dry the floor without first closing the tap, they know he hasn’t come to his senses yet. It’s an endless task—he could spend his entire life mopping the floor. This scenario mirrors what many Christians do with the Blood of Jesus Christ. They are mopping, and mopping, and mopping, yes, it’s good news that we have a mop and bucket (forgiveness through His Blood), but the Gospel is even better than that! God can do something about that ‘tap’. Otherwise, it really wouldn’t be ‘Good News’!...’Jesus Said, I do not Condemn you, Go and sin no more’ (John 8:11).” – Zac Poonen
“All of God’s dealings with us are rooted in His perfect love. His desire is for us to experience true happiness—not the superficial, frothy happiness the world offers, but a deep, lasting joy that comes through a life of holiness. However, holiness cannot be attained without suffering, for it is through trials and challenges that God refines and shapes us into His likeness.” – Zac Poonen
“Acts 1:8, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and You shall receive power, and you shall be my witnesses. ’Not you shall “do”, or “you shall bear” but “you shall be.”’ There is a lot of emphasis in the Christian world today on what are we doing for the lord. I’m being; and from being, I’m doing. We can ‘do’ without ‘being’. But let’s ‘be’ first and then ‘do’.” – Zac Poonen
“You can tell that a husband and wife have a good relationship when they can joke and laugh together—not just when they pray together. A couple may pray together yet still struggle in their relationship. Humor often serves as a true test of a healthy bond, while constant seriousness may indicate something is wrong. A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.” – Zac Poonen
“It is impossible to get God’s wisdom without God disciplining us. He discipline’s those whom he loves (Heb 12:6, Prbs 3:11,12). He allows circumstances, sicknesses, financial difficulties, trials, people to oppress us, and difficult neighbours and many more. The purpose is that we might get divine wisdom, because we lack understanding.” – Zac Poonen
“GOD DELIGHTS IN HONESTY. He delights in people who are absolutely honest even though it means loss for them. What does a man gain by making a little extra money and at the end the Lord hates him? That’s not gain. That’s a fantastic loss.” – Zac Poonen
“Babylon the harlot whose weapon is flattery. Jerusalem the bride whose weapon is rebuke and correction.” – Zac Poonen
“Carnal Christians constantly fear that their boat will sink in the midst of life’s storms. But Jesus, secure in His Father’s love, could sleep peacefully through the storm, knowing that the devil could not harm Him so easily. His Father was always watching over Him. One day, when we stand before God, we will be amazed at how much greater His love for us was than we ever imagined. Only then will we realize how unnecessary all our anxieties were. But what good will it be to realize it then? Now is the time to open our eyes to God’s love and live by faith.” – Zac Poonen
“THE HUMBLEST MAN IS THE WISEST MAN. A man can never get wisdom by mixing with proud people but gets wisdom when he mixes with humble people.” – Zac Poonen
“A person who becomes upset and disturbed by correction often avoids wise people and instead surrounds himself with those who only flatter and say pleasing things. However, true wisdom lies in recognizes that another person is wiser and more spiritually mature than they are, the wisest course of action is to humbly embrace their guidance and correction from them.” – Zac Poonen
“BEGIN WITH SINCERITY AND HONESTY. The more hypocritical a man is the more difficult to know God’s will and greater amount of time he lives as a fool.” – Zac Poonen
“When a person is converted and embraces legalistic form of Christianity, he makes himself a twofold child of hell. It is only when he becomes disciple of Jesus and loves him supremely and love others as Christ loved him that he is delivered from hell.” – Zac Poonen
“Through God’s wisdom, material things were created, yet the foolish prioritize material possessions over wisdom.” – Zac Poonen
“‘The best thing a city can have is a living church of Jesus Christ in its midst’ and it’s through a man’s righteousness, uprightness and godliness that a blessing comes upon a City and not through any jing-bang-lot.” – Zac Poonen
“Christians imagine that they can serve God just because they have Bible-knowledge, musical ability and plenty of money. But they’re mistaken. They need to learn a lesson from Moses’ life: 40 years of the best that this world could give him could not prepare him for God’s service. What all the universities in Egypt could not teach Moses, he learnt in the wilderness and God said ‘You are Ready’.” – Zac Poonen
“A man who trusts in God’s promises (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 8:28) will not fall to the temptation of retaliating against a godless person who seeks to harm the righteous with all kinds of evil.” – Zac Poonen
“Everyone runs his own life. In the midst of such people, God has a remnant who do not run their own lives. They are under the government of heaven. That is the church.” – Zac Poonen
“Turning the tables on Satan and using Satan’s schemes to fulfil God’s purposes shows God’s almighty power far greater than if He had simply destroyed or restrained Satan’s work.” – Zac Poonen
“Growing in grace is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.” – Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952)
“The law discovers the disease, and the gospel the physician.” – Thomas Boston (1676-1732)
A BURNING AND SHINING LIGHT
See that row of unlighted candles, standing in silver sockets, chased and wrought with wondrous skill, such are the souls of men by nature, rich in attainments and generous impulses, highly educated, perhaps, apparently fit for high and glorious work, but they have no light. They are a puzzle to themselves and others. Whilst another, who has none of their powers or advantages, casts a glow on his age, which lingers long after he has gone. He is like a common candle, but lit. The spark from God has ignited his soul. But remember that while the candle shines with the light of God, it wastes (away). The slowly-dwindling length shows the amount of the inevitable expenditure. Our Lord said of (John) the Baptist, “He was a burning and shining light.” There must be burning before there can be shining. We must suffer in order to serve. – F. B. Meyer“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom; and that it is by God’s power that he is upheld and provided for, and that he needs God’s wisdom to lead and guide him, and His might to enable him to do what he ought to do for Him.” – Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
“Jesus did not promise to change the circumstances around us. He promised great peace and pure joy to those who would learn to believe that God actually controls all things.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Our loving Lord is not just present, but nearer than the thought can imagine - so near that a whisper can reach Him.” – Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
“The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger.” – Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
“If we have Christ with us, we can do all things. Let us not be thinking how weak we are. Let us lift up our eyes to Him and think of Him as our Elder Brother who has all power given to Him in Heaven and on earth. He says, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Humility is nothing but the disappearance of self in the vision that God is all.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
“If we live in peace ourselves, we in turn may bring peace to others. A peaceable man does more good than a learned one.” – Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.” – J. I. Packer (1926-2020)
“We are not responsible for the circumstances we are in, but we are responsible for the way we allow those circumstances to affect us; we can either allow them to get on top of us or we can allow them to transform us into what God wants us to be.” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“God doesn’t want something from us. He simply wants us.” – C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
“Those who seek the deeper Christian life and those who want the riches that are in Christ Jesus the Lord seek no place, no wealth, no things, only Christ.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love.” Has it been our experience that the more we have of the Holy Spirit, the more loving we become? In claiming the Holy Spirit, we should make this the first object of our expectation. The Holy Spirit comes as a Spirit of love.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
“God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“I soon discovered that man’s importunity is God’s opportunity. He uses our problems as building materials for His miracles. I began to understand that this was my first lesson in learning to trust Him completely, my first steps on the path to complete dependence on, and obedience to, His guidance.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Proceed with much prayer, and your way will be made plain.” – John Wesley (1703-1791)
“If we empty our hearts of self, God will fill them with His love.” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“It is a great truth, wonderful as it is undeniable, that all our happiness - temporal, spiritual, and eternal - consists in one thing; namely, in resigning ourselves to God, and in leaving ourselves with Him, to do with us and in us just as He pleases.” – Madam Guyon (1648-1717)
“It is necessary for God to use the hammers, the file, and the furnace in His holy work of preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” – Brother Lawrence (1611-1691)
“The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover the simpler life, the greater peace.” – Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
“When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
HIS SOVEREIGN PRESENCE
The journey to the Cross passes through Gethsemane. It is a valley in the shadow of deep darkness. But as Psalm 23 exhorts us, He is with us there, closely beside us and guiding us through. May you be strengthened and encouraged by His sovereign presence in your own Gethsemane. When the chief priests, temple officers and elders came to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, they succeeded only because a sovereign God permitted them to succeed. Jesus pointed out that He was teaching daily in the Temple, yet they never laid a finger on Him. Now they were after Him with swords and staves. “But this is your hour and the power of darkness is yours” (Luke 22:53, Phillips). Who gave them that hour? Who allowed them the power to capture Him? It was God, without whose leave not even a sparrow can fall to the ground. God is omnipotent, never slumbering, just, righteous and forever in control. He was not taken by surprise. All was working then, as it is always working, into a pattern for good. Our own difficulties often appear to be random. Our tragedies look wildly uncontrolled. They are not. They are subject. Limits are set. God is quietly at work, standing in the shadows, ceaselessly watching over His children. The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never mastered it (John 1:5). – Elisabeth Elliot“Whenever God begins something, we have the assurance that He will finish it. Nothing will stand in the way of Him accomplishing His purpose in this world and in our lives. What God starts, He finishes, and nobody can hinder Him. Sure, delays will happen. Just remember, God is in charge of the delays as well as the progress.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“You see, a potter can only mold the clay when it lies completely in his hand. It requires complete surrender.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Every instance of obedience, from right motives, strengthens us spiritually, whilst every act of disobedience weakens us.” – George Muller (1805-1898)
“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” – William Carey (1761-1834)
“God sees us perfect in His Son while He disciplines and chastens and purges us that we may be partakers of His holiness.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“It is a great thing to see physical courage, and greater still to see moral courage, but the greatest to see of all is spiritual courage; oh, to see a person who will stand true to the integrity of Jesus Christ no matter what he or she goes through!” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His Word and to His rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle toward all men.” – Matthew Henry (1662-1714)
“The victorious Christian neither exalts nor downgrades himself. His interests have shifted from self to Christ.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands.” – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
“The supreme test of service is this: For whom am I doing this? Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all....If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human reward or even recognition.” – Arthur Tappan Pierson (1837-1911)
“Intimate knowledge of God is possible if we habitually search His Holy Scriptures and translate what we find into obedience.” – George Muller (1805-1898)
“Walking with God down the avenue of prayer we acquire something of His likeness, and unconsciously we become witnesses to others of His beauty and His grace.” – Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913)
“The purpose of God isn’t to save us from Hell. The purpose of God is to make us like Christ.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“Feelings come and feelings go, And feelings are deceiving; My warrant is the Word of God-- Nothing else is worth believing. Though all my heart should feel condemned For want of some sweet token, There is One greater than my heart Whose Word cannot be broken. I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word Till soul and body sever, For, though all things shall pass away, HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!” – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
“The secret of spiritual success is a hunger that persists…It is an awful condition to be satisfied with one’s spiritual attainments…God was and is looking for hungry, thirsty people.” – Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947)
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“To be a Christian is not only to believe the teaching of Christ, and to practice it; it is not only to try to follow the pattern and example of Christ; it is to be so vitally related to Christ that His life and His power are working in us. It is to be ‘in Christ,’ it is for Christ to be in us.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981)
“Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to His plans; nothing can thwart His purposes; and nothing is beyond His control.” – Joni Eareckson Tada
“The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.” – Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
“God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us, to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.” – Warren W. Wiersbe (1929-2019)
“This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God.” – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Religion can reform a person’s life, but it can never transform him. Only the Holy Spirit can transform!” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence with them.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“The eternal everlasting God has become our Father and the moment we realize that, it transforms everything.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981)
“Once more, never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace.” – David Brainerd (1718-1747)
“Our God has boundless resources. The only limit is in us. Our asking, our thinking, our praying are too small. Our expectations are too limited.” – A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)
“The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine...Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“When we come to the place of impossibilities, it is the grandest place for us to see the possibilities of God.” – Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947)
FEAR NOT
I have a large verse hanging in the front room of my house that reads, “If you fear God, you need fear nothing else”. That’s the Living Bible paraphrase of Isaiah 8:12 &13. That verse has been of tremendous help to me in the last 25 years. Let me share with you some of the truths that I’ve learnt from the Lord on this matter of fear. First of all, I’ve learnt that fear is one of the main weapons in Satan’s armory. Secondly, I’ve learnt that I don’t need to feel condemned if feelings of fear come to me at times - because I’m still in the flesh. We must be realistic and honest about this. The apostle Paul was quite honest and admitted that he had “fears within” him, at certain times (2 Corinthians 7:5). The third thing I’ve learnt (and this is the most important) is that even if I do have fears, I must never take a decision based on fear. My decisions must always be based on faith in God - the very opposite of fear. And that’s how I’ve sought to live for many years now. And God has helped me and encouraged me tremendously. I now understand why Jesus so frequently said: Fear not, fear not, fear not. This is as important as the other emphasis in the New Testament: Sin not, sin not, sin not. Jesus was always against sin and He was always against fear. He told us to fear only God and no-one else (Matthew 10:28). This is a very important lesson for us to learn. – Br. Zac Poonen“Being filled with the Spirit is simply this - having my whole nature yielded to His power. When the whole soul is yielded to the Holy Spirit, God Himself will fill it.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
INTERRUPTIONS, DELAYS, INCONVENIENCES
About eighty years ago, when James O. Fraser was working as a solitary missionary in Tengyueh Southwest China, his situation was, “in every sense, ‘against the grain.”‘ He did not enjoy housekeeping and looking after premises. He found the houseboy irritable and touchy, constantly quarreling with the cook. Endless small items of business cluttered up the time he wanted for language study, and he was having to learn to be “perpetually inconvenienced” for the sake of the gospel. He wrote after some weeks alone: “I am finding out that it is a mistake to plan to get through a certain amount of work in a certain time. It ends in disappointment, besides not being the right way to go about it, in my judgment. It makes one impatient of interruptions and delay.” “Just as you are nearly finishing, somebody comes along to sit with you and have a chat! You might hardly think it possible to be impatient and put out where there is such an opportunity for presenting the Gospel, but it is. It may be just on mealtime, or you are writing a letter to catch the mail, or you were just going out for needed exercise before tea.” “But the visitor has to be welcomed, and I think it is well to cultivate an attitude of mind which will enable one to welcome him from the heart and at any time. ‘No admittance except on business’ scarcely shows a true missionary spirit.” There is nothing like the biographies of great Christians to give us perspective and help us to keep spiritual balance.... One more quotation – this from an out-of-print book, The Life and Letters of Janet Erskine Stuart: Says one who was her assistant for some years, “She delighted in seeing her plans upset by unexpected events, saying that it gave her great comfort, and that she looked on such things as an assurance that God was watching over her stewardship, was securing the accomplishment of His will, and working out His own designs...” – Elisabeth Elliot“Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty years learning he was nobody; and forty years discovering what God can do with a nobody.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“Christ says, ‘Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you....Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you myself: my own will shall become yours.’” – C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
“Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“As iron put into the fire looses its rust and becomes clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turns himself unto God puts off all laziness, and is transformed into a new man.” – Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
“There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to obey the voice of God.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength -- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD
I draw a lot of inspiration from the story of Joseph. Although he was never paralyzed, a lot of things happened to him that could be construed as accidents. There were plenty of unfortunate mishaps in Joseph’s life, like being tossed by his envious brothers into a pit and left to die. But later on, after more mishaps, Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good so that others might be saved.” I like that word intended. He is a God of intention — he has a purpose, a target, a goal, and a plan. God was a giant step ahead of Joseph’s brothers, aborting their evil intentions to suit his own purposes. Joseph’s problems did not catch God off guard, presenting him with situations he wished would never have happened. From the beginning, God calculated for Joseph to experience all these things. Why? For the salvation of others. Think of disappointing or bad things that have happened to you. God’s hands stay on the wheel of your life from start to finish so that everything follows his intention for your life. This means your trials have more meaning, much more, than you realize. Your problems have more purpose than you can imagine. Not because God merely used bad things, but because God intended them so that others might be brought to Jesus through your example. – Joni Eareckson Tada“Whenever I feel fearful emotions (fear) overtaking me, I just close my eyes and thank God that He is still on the throne reigning over everything and I take comfort in His control over the affairs of my life.” – John Wesley (1703-1791)
“Here is the path to the higher life: down, lower down! Just as water always seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds men abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
“I have no faith in my faith. My faith is in the faithful God.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“So if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in places of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“This is our high calling, to represent Christ, and act in His behalf, and in His character and spirit, under all circumstances and toward all men.” – A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)
“Our rest lies in looking to the Lord, not to ourselves.” – Watchman Nee (1903-1972)
“If you live for the next world (eternity), you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both.” – C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
“The man who has got something is not absolutely dependent. But the man who has got nothing is absolutely dependent. Absolute dependence on God is the secret of all power in work. The branch has nothing but what it gets from the vine. You and I can have nothing but what we get from Jesus.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
“God has two thrones, one in the highest heavens, the other in the lowliest heart.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“Jesus Christ left us an example for our daily conduct. He felt no bitter resentment and He held no grudge against anyone! Even those who crucified Him were forgiven while they were in the act. Not a word did He utter against them nor against the ones who stirred them up to destroy Him. How evil they all were. He knew better than any other man, but He maintained a charitable (forgiving) attitude toward them.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them. We must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“Salvation was bought not by Jesus’ fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” – A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)
“A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, ‘Oh, I can explain that.’” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“Hold loosely to the things of this life, so that if God requires them of you, it will be easy to let them go.” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“Christ lives in me. And how great the difference...instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND
It is wonderfully stabilizing and quieting to recall some of the ways in which God’s timing is seen in the great Bible stories. Events the world would dismiss as mere coincidence turn out to have been synchronized with utmost precision by the Ruler of time. When Abraham’s servant went to find a wife for Isaac, he made the camels kneel by the well outside the city and was praying for guidance to the right girl. Before he finished praying, there she was. When Ruth went to glean in the fields behind the reapers, it “happened” that she was in the strip that belonged to Boaz, and she appeared there just as he came out from Bethlehem. He became her “kinsman-redeemer.” The boy David, sent with provisions for his brothers who were soldiers, arrived at the encampment as the Philistine host was shouting the war cry. David ran to the ranks and was just in time to hear the giant of Gath, Goliath, thunder his challenge: “Here and now I defy the ranks of Israel. Give me a man, ...and we will fight it out.” And David, though only a youth, “ruddy and comely,” defied him in the name of the Lord of Hosts and sank a stone from his slingshot into Goliath’s forehead. “My times are in thy hand” has become a part of my life. When the Lord has left me in an agony of waiting over some decision, these words have put me at rest. His timing is always perfect, though it seldom seems so to me, for my temperament longs for previews of coming attractions. “Wait for the Lord; be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord” is the word I need many times. – Elisabeth ElliotZEROES
In 1 Corinthians 3:5, Paul asks the question “What then is Apollos and what is Paul?”. We would reply that Paul was a mighty apostle of the Lord, who had raised the dead, established many churches, and even written Scripture. But he says of himself, “What is Paul? A servant”. That was his opinion of himself until the end of his life. No wonder Paul never fell by the wayside. The moment we begin to think of ourselves as anything other than servants of others, we have begun to backslide. Paul says further, “I planted, Apollos watered”. Which of the two is greater? The one who plants - who goes as a pioneer to an unreached area and does a work for God where nothing existed before? Or the one who comes along later and waters the plant through the teaching of God’s Word and encouragement, and builds the believers into a Body? The answer is “Neither”. Both are “nothing” - says Paul (v.7). Both are zeroes. Only God - Who caused the plant to grow - is everything. Paul considered himself a zero until the end of his life. And so God could use him till the end of his life. God was everything to Paul. The Lord needed a donkey once to speak to Balaam. He needed a donkey at another time to ride into Jerusalem. And He has need of donkeys even today for His purposes. Who are we then? Just donkeys whom the Lord has picked up, to speak through, or to ride on. – Br. Zac Poonen“May we live here on earth like strangers, and make the world not a house, but an inn, in which we sup and lodge, expecting to be on our journey tomorrow.” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“The fact is, we are leaky vessels, and we have to keep right under the fountain all the time to keep full of Christ, and so have fresh supply.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
“Jesus has to be and become ever more the center of my life. It is not enough that Jesus is my teacher, my guide, my source of inspiration. It is not even enough that he is my companion on the journey, my friend and my brother. Jesus must become the heart of my heart, the fire of my life, the love of my soul, the bridegroom of my spirit. He must become my only thought, my only concern, my only desire.” – Henri Nouwen (1932-1996)
“Just as the right relationship with Christ generates a Christian, so the proper relationship with the Holy Spirit produces a spiritual man.” – Watchman Nee (1903-1972)
“If you seek nothing but the will of God, He will always put you in the right place at the right time.” – Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947)
“It always encourages me to read in the Bible that God calls His people by name. He knows us better than our closest friends or loved ones do. He knows our needs and what’s bothering us today. God thinks about us lovingly. He doesn’t think thoughts of evil about us. He is not a policeman looking to arrest us. No, our Father in heaven thinks about us lovingly, the way a father and a mother think about their children. God thinks about us wisely. He has a perfect plan for our lives. David said, ‘The Lord will perfect that which concerns me’ (Ps. 138:8). He’ll do that today. We don’t see all the pieces and how they fit together, but our Father does, and that’s all that matters... God knows you intimately. He knows not only your name but your every need. He knows what is best for you and always does what is right. You are always on God’s mind. Is He on your mind? Determine to know Him more intimately.” – Warren Wiersbe
Psalm 40:17 TLB
I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now.“A true and faithful Christian does not make holy living an accidental thing. It is his great concern. As the business of the soldier is to fight, so the business of the Christian is to be like Christ.” – Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
“Before there can be fullness there must be emptiness. Before God can fill us with Himself we must first be emptied of ourselves.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade Him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by His Spirit to move ourselves His way.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
THE STEPS AND STOPS OF GOOD MEN
In the mid-1980s, I was admitted in a hospital for a short while. I asked the Lord why He allowed me to be in a hospital when I could have been busy serving Him somewhere. The Lord told me that He wanted me to lie down for a few days and listen to what He had to say to me. I had been so busy in the ministry that I had hardly got time to talk to the Lord. When I saw that that was the reason for my hospitalization, I was happy to lie there for as long as the Lord wanted, because I wanted to hear Him. One advantage of lying in a hospital bed is that you can only look up! As I lay there, the Lord began to speak to me day after day. As the Lord spoke to me, I wrote down what He said. That was the only article I ever wrote that was written almost thought for thought, as the Lord spoke to me. It was published as an article titled “God Needs Men” (Chapter 2 in my book “New Wine in New Wineskins”), and later as a booklet titled, “Fifty Marks of Godly Men”. God has used that article and that booklet around the world in many countries. I consider it to be the most important of all my writings. But I might never have written it, if the Lord had not put me in a hospital-bed! God stops us at times - by sickness or by imprisonment - in order to make us do something for Him that we would never have done otherwise. So we can be thankful whenever God stops us in our tracks. He has a purpose in it, for “the stops of good men are directed by the Lord, just as much as their steps” (Psalm 37:23). – Br. Zac Poonen“If God gives you a few more years, remember, it is not yours. Your time must honor God, your home must honor God, your activity must honor God, and everything you do must honor God.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“If Christ has died for me, ungodly as I am, without strength as I am, then I cannot live in sin any longer. I must arouse myself to love and serve Him who has redeemed me. I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend. I must be holy for His sake. How can I live in sin when He has died to save me from it?” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly connections than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.” – Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned - The flames will not consume you. Don’t be afraid. I am with you.” (Isaiah 43:2, 5 - TLB)
His grace is sufficient for us in every situation. As our trials grow greater, the supply of His grace will become greater too. Praise God! Many of God’s most precious jewels are those who have come out of depths of unimaginable suffering. Just as diamonds are formed in the depths of the earth, they too have suffered tremendous heat and pressure, unseen from the eyes of all men. You can be His precious jewel too. Tears are a part of the process that transforms us into the likeness of Christ - if you submit to God’s dealing joyfully, and don’t shed tears in self-pity. God can change your pain into your gain. – Sister Annie Poonen – From the book “Woman, why are you weeping”“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” – George Muller (1805-1898)
WILL YOU SAY WHAT MARY SAID?
“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). The angel’s message meant, for this young, pure-hearted girl, a great deal of misunderstanding and reproach. It was inevitable that clouds would gather around her character, which would sorely perplex the good man to whom she was betrothed. But as soon as she realized that this lot was ordained for her by God she humbly acquiesced, with these model words of patient faith. Let us often say them: Firstly: To His commands... We must test what seems to be His voice by these three corroborations: First, His Word, second, by the trend of outward circumstances, third, by the advice of Christian people not immediately interested. When these concur, we may take it that God has spoken to us, and whatever the burden of His words we must respond - Be it unto me according to Thy word. Secondly: To the responsibilities thrust on us. It may be a trusteeship for some dying friend, a charge of orphan children, a babe cast on our parentage, an invalid, a difficult and trying piece of Christian enterprise. But whenever it comes on us, imposed by the evident appointment of our Father, notwithstanding the shrinking of our flesh and the fearfulness of our soul, we must say: Be it unto me according to Thy word. Thirdly: To any burden of pain and suffering. Are you one whom God has set apart to manifest the power of His grace in suffering and pain? ..Well, still dare to look up and say: Be it unto me according to Thy word. – F. B. Meyer“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“Only a life of prayer and meditation (on the Word of God) will render a vessel ready for the Master’s use.” – George Muller (1805-1898)
“The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them - through faith or unbelief - that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that He only permits trials to come our way for our own good.” – Brother Lawrence (1614-1691)
“God is not looking for men of great faith, He is looking for common men to trust His great faithfulness.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“God has in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you.” – Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
“God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments, but He is looking for humble instruments through whom He can be honored throughout the ages.” – A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” – John Newton (1725-1807)
Coveting
To covet means to want to have something very much, especially something that belongs to someone else. The last of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour” (Exodus 20:17). Regarding idols, God also instructed His people through Moses in Deuteronomy 7:25, “You shall burn with fire the graven images of their gods; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.” As Joshua was leading the children of Israel to capture Jericho, he gave them a warning to keep away from the things that were banned from the spoil and not to covet them, lest they violate the ban (Joshua 6:18). But Achan did not heed the warning (Joshua 7:20-21); he coveted a beautiful mantle, silver, and gold, and hid them, leading to God’s punishment on Israel. Coveting is a sin of the heart (Mark 7:21-22). It makes us discontent, thus taking away our happiness. Coveting craves more of the things of this world. We may tend to covet things that interest us, such as electronic gadgets, clothes, kitchenware, etc., that others have. We can also covet the positions of responsibility that others hold, whether in the church or elsewhere. Ephesians 5:5 says, “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Regarding coveting, the apostle Paul, when living under the Law, said in Romans 7:8, “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law, sin is dead.” However, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and with the Law written in his heart, he became an overcomer, so that he could say in Acts 20:33, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes.” Overcoming Covetousness:
- Heeding to the words of Jesus in Luke 12:15: And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
- Desiring Contentment: 1 Timothy 6:6: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”
- Longing for God alone like Asaph: Psalm 73:25: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”
- Only one thing is necessary: Jesus said to Martha in Luke 10:41-42: “But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”
The only place we are encouraged to covet or earnestly desire, is in 1 Corinthians 14:39 (KJV): “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.” – Author not specified“Love accepts the trying things of life without asking for explanations. It trusts and is at rest.” – Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
“The God who created, names, and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head...He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life.” – Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
“Saints are described as fearing the name of God; they are reverent worshippers; they stand in awe of the Lord’s authority; they are afraid of offending Him; they feel their own nothingness in the sight of the Infinite One.” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” – Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
“I have noticed this, that when a man is full of the Holy Spirit, he is the very last man to be complaining of other people.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“The grand obstacle to the salvation of the scribes and Pharisees was their pride, vanity and self-love. They lived on each other’s praise. If they had acknowledged Christ as the only good teacher, they must have given up the good opinion of the multitude; and they chose rather to lose their souls than to forfeit their reputation among men!” – Adam Clarke (1760-1832)
“Discipline, for the Christian, begins with the body. We have only one. It is this body that is the primary material given to us for sacrifice. We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies for ourselves.” – Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
“God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love, love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.” – George Whitefield (1714-1770)
“If it’s dark everywhere, you can become so discouraged. You might doubt whether light still exists. But even if you can’t see the Lord, He sees you and me. Jesus said, ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matt. 28:20).” – Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
“The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.” – Brother Lawrence (1611-1691)
“Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus: humility, happiness, and holiness.” – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
“What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all the time receiving, never giving out anything.” – Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” – Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)
“It does not matter what your personal deficiency, or whether it be a hundred and one different things, God has always one sufficient answer, His Son Jesus Christ, and He is the answer to every need.” – Watchman Nee (1903-1972)
“God asks the best we have, because He gave the Best He had.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of God’s grace, power and love.” – Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
“When someone sets his affections upon the cross and the love of Christ, he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing. The baits of sin lose their attraction and disappear. Fill your affections with the cross of Christ and you will find no room for sin.” – John Owen (1616-1683)
“The first essential for the coming of the Holy Spirit into a heart today is that the heart should be cleansed from sin, for the Holy Spirit does not fill an unclean heart. What God has cleansed, He then fills. Finally, whom God fills, He uses. A holy life is the authentic sign of being filled with the Spirit.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, and make that man holy and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“Life is a journey, not a home; a road, not a city of habitation; and the enjoyments and blessings we have are but little lodges on the roadside of life, where we may be refreshed for a moment, that we may with new strength press on to the end - to the rest that remains for the people of God.” – Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
“If we displease God, does it matter whom we please? If we please Him, does it matter whom we displease?” – Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)
“Let us watch against pride in every shape - pride of intellect, pride of wealth, pride of our own goodness. Nothing is so likely to keep a person out of heaven, and prevent them from seeing Christ, as pride.” – J C Ryle (1816-1900)
“Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Having fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it’s because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That’s the source of everything.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963)
“A meek spirit gives no trouble willingly to any: a quiet spirit bears all wrongs without being troubled.” – John Wesley (1703-1791)
“God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And detach any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.” – David Livingstone (1813-1873)
“The presence and the power of the glorified Christ will come to them that are of a humble spirit.” – Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
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