I've never heard of Shane Idleman (After you watch this you may chuckle at the irony of his last name), but this is a good sermon excerpt.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Understanding The Doctrine of Man ~ Paul Washer
"What I preached here today, unconverted people in the church will walk out offended. Converted people, most of them who are not among the noble or the wise, will be slapping themselves on the thigh saying, 'Praise the Lord!'" ~ Paul Washer
Listen to series online or download on your MP3:
Part 1 -
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=2712227484
Part 2
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=27122231230
Part 3
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=27122255591
Friday, February 17, 2012
John Angell James ~Strange Piety
With all the news that is going on in the Christian community these days, I found this old excerpt; history continues to repeat itself.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Charles Spurgeon ~ Petty Wars Over Abstruse Points & Unimportant Questions
I posted the excerpt a while back, but it needs repeating.
"Foolish controversies: Paul again warns against becoming embroiled in senseless discussion with the many false teachers on Crete, especially the Judaizers who contended that a Christian must be obedient to the 'The (Mosaic) Law', a view that assaulted the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone and, contrary to holy living, which was good and profitable, was 'unprofitable and worthless.' Proclaiming the truth, not arguing error, is the biblical way to evangelize." John MacArthrur Bible study notes on Titus 3:9.
"Foolish controversies: Paul again warns against becoming embroiled in senseless discussion with the many false teachers on Crete, especially the Judaizers who contended that a Christian must be obedient to the 'The (Mosaic) Law', a view that assaulted the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone and, contrary to holy living, which was good and profitable, was 'unprofitable and worthless.' Proclaiming the truth, not arguing error, is the biblical way to evangelize." John MacArthrur Bible study notes on Titus 3:9.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Holy Spirit
Thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit has made me search some really good quotes:
His Presense:
"The Holy Spirit is the most involved in our lives and the least honored." - John MacArthur, 2012 Shepherds Conference
"In an authentic spiritual experience, emotion, feelings, and the senses often become intense, transcending the normal. These may include strong feelings of remorse over sin, a mighty sense of trust that surpasses the pain of a traumatic situation, an overpowering peace in the midst of trouble, the overwhelming sense of joy related to confidence and hope in God, intense sorrow over the lost, the exhilarating praise in understanding the glory of God, or a heightened zeal for ministry. Spiritual experience by definition is an internal awareness that involves strong emotion in response to the truth of God’s Word, amplified by the Holy Spirit and applied by Him to us personally." John MacArthur Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 26.
"It is the Holy Spirit who is causing you to persevere. In those times when you are lazy and have no enthusiasm for any Spiritual Discipline, or when you haven’t practiced a particular Discipline as you habitually do, it is the Holy Spirit who prompts you to pick it up in spite of your feelings. Left to yourself you would have forsaken these means of sustaining grace long ago, but the Holy Spirit preserves you by granting to you the grace to persevere in them." Donald Whitney
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 1991, p. 238
“When God hides His face from His people, it is almost always behind clouds of dust which they have made themselves. You will have sorrow enough in the ordinary way to Heaven—do not make an extra rod for your own back.”—C.H. Spurgeon 1892, Sermon #2284
"All that we spiritually know of ourselves, all that we know of God, and of Jesus, and His Word, we owe to the teaching of the Holy Spirit; and all the real light, sanctification, strength and comfort we are made to possess on our way to glory, we must ascribe to Him… Where He is honoured, and adoring thoughts of His person, and tender, loving views of His work are cherished, then are experienced, in an enlarged degree, His quickening, enlightening, sanctifying and comforting influence." Octavius Winslow
His Illumination
"Apart from the Spirit, [the Bible] cannot quicken, nor sanctify, nor comfort. It may be read constantly, and searched deeply, and known accurately, and understood partially, and quoted appropriately. Yet, left to its own unassisted power, “it comes but in word only” (1 Thes. 1:5), producing no hallowing, no abiding, no saving results." Octavius Winslow
"Unaccompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is inactive, inoperative; a mere dead letter!" Octavius Winslow
His Empowerment
Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. As an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted. C.H. Spurgeon
"For Jesus, time alone with God was not an option… The gospel of Luke tells us that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Lk. 5:16)…This is precisely where you and I so often miss out on all that God has for us. Unlike Jesus, we attempt to live life in our own energy. We think we can keep giving out without getting replenished. Then, wearied and weakened by the demands of life and ministry, we become impatient and annoyed with the very ones God has sent us to serve. Rather than exhibiting a gracious, calm, joyous spirit, we become uptight, frazzled, and frenzied (people), resenting, rather than welcoming, the people and opportunities God brings into our lives." Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Place of Quiet Rest, Moody, 2000, p. 29.
1. Spiritual counsel and edifying praise – Eph. 5:19.
2. Frequent worship of God – Eph. 5:19.
3. Constant attitude of thanksgiving – Eph. 5:20.
4. Humility and submission to those in authority – Eph. 5:21-6:9.
5. Greater victory over concentrated spiritual attack – Eph. 6:10-19.
6. More spiritual gifts in the church since the Spirit is the one who gives gifts.
7. More specific understanding of God’s will in the decisions which face us in life – Eph. 1:17, Gal. 5:18.
8. Greater holiness in life – Rom. 8:13.
9. More answers to prayer – Eph. 6:18.
10. Amazingly fruitful ministry – Zech. 4:6.
11. Much greater peace in our hearts – Rom. 8:6.
Wayne Grudem
Being “filled with the Spirit” as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5:18 is not getting more of the Spirit, but yielding every area of our lives to the Spirit's empowering and direction – having our lives filled with God's Spirit as opposed to self. Eddie Rasnake The Book of Ephesians
“All the good that is ever done in the world is worked by the Holy Spirit and, as the Holy Spirit honors Jesus Christ, so He puts great honor upon the Holy Spirit. If you and I try, either as a Church or as individuals, to do without the Holy Spirit, God will soon do without us. Unless we reverently worship Him and believingly trust in Him, we shall find that we shall be like Samson when his locks were shorn. He shook himself as he had done before, but when the Philistines were upon him, he could do nothing against them. Our prayer must always be, ‘Holy Spirit, dwell with me! Holy Spirit, dwell with Your servants!’ We know that we are utterly dependent upon Him. Such is the teaching of our Master and Jesus Christ is ‘the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’”—C.H. Spurgeon 1894, Sermon #2358
“When I lie dying, when heart and flesh are failing me, when I shall have little else to think of but my Lord and the eternal state, then shall thoughts of Him pull up the floodgates of the river of bliss and let the very joy of Heaven into my heart! And, by His Grace, I shall be eager to be up and away! I shall not dread the pains, and groans, and dying strife of which some talk so much—but the sweetness of “my meditation of Him” shall make me forget even the bitterness of death, itself.”—C.H. Spurgeon 1895, Sermon #2403
His Presense:
"The Holy Spirit is the most involved in our lives and the least honored." - John MacArthur, 2012 Shepherds Conference
"In an authentic spiritual experience, emotion, feelings, and the senses often become intense, transcending the normal. These may include strong feelings of remorse over sin, a mighty sense of trust that surpasses the pain of a traumatic situation, an overpowering peace in the midst of trouble, the overwhelming sense of joy related to confidence and hope in God, intense sorrow over the lost, the exhilarating praise in understanding the glory of God, or a heightened zeal for ministry. Spiritual experience by definition is an internal awareness that involves strong emotion in response to the truth of God’s Word, amplified by the Holy Spirit and applied by Him to us personally." John MacArthur Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 26.
"It is the Holy Spirit who is causing you to persevere. In those times when you are lazy and have no enthusiasm for any Spiritual Discipline, or when you haven’t practiced a particular Discipline as you habitually do, it is the Holy Spirit who prompts you to pick it up in spite of your feelings. Left to yourself you would have forsaken these means of sustaining grace long ago, but the Holy Spirit preserves you by granting to you the grace to persevere in them." Donald Whitney
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 1991, p. 238
“When God hides His face from His people, it is almost always behind clouds of dust which they have made themselves. You will have sorrow enough in the ordinary way to Heaven—do not make an extra rod for your own back.”—C.H. Spurgeon 1892, Sermon #2284
"All that we spiritually know of ourselves, all that we know of God, and of Jesus, and His Word, we owe to the teaching of the Holy Spirit; and all the real light, sanctification, strength and comfort we are made to possess on our way to glory, we must ascribe to Him… Where He is honoured, and adoring thoughts of His person, and tender, loving views of His work are cherished, then are experienced, in an enlarged degree, His quickening, enlightening, sanctifying and comforting influence." Octavius Winslow
His Illumination
"Apart from the Spirit, [the Bible] cannot quicken, nor sanctify, nor comfort. It may be read constantly, and searched deeply, and known accurately, and understood partially, and quoted appropriately. Yet, left to its own unassisted power, “it comes but in word only” (1 Thes. 1:5), producing no hallowing, no abiding, no saving results." Octavius Winslow
"Unaccompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is inactive, inoperative; a mere dead letter!" Octavius Winslow
His Empowerment
Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. As an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted. C.H. Spurgeon
"For Jesus, time alone with God was not an option… The gospel of Luke tells us that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Lk. 5:16)…This is precisely where you and I so often miss out on all that God has for us. Unlike Jesus, we attempt to live life in our own energy. We think we can keep giving out without getting replenished. Then, wearied and weakened by the demands of life and ministry, we become impatient and annoyed with the very ones God has sent us to serve. Rather than exhibiting a gracious, calm, joyous spirit, we become uptight, frazzled, and frenzied (people), resenting, rather than welcoming, the people and opportunities God brings into our lives." Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Place of Quiet Rest, Moody, 2000, p. 29.
1. Spiritual counsel and edifying praise – Eph. 5:19.
2. Frequent worship of God – Eph. 5:19.
3. Constant attitude of thanksgiving – Eph. 5:20.
4. Humility and submission to those in authority – Eph. 5:21-6:9.
5. Greater victory over concentrated spiritual attack – Eph. 6:10-19.
6. More spiritual gifts in the church since the Spirit is the one who gives gifts.
7. More specific understanding of God’s will in the decisions which face us in life – Eph. 1:17, Gal. 5:18.
8. Greater holiness in life – Rom. 8:13.
9. More answers to prayer – Eph. 6:18.
10. Amazingly fruitful ministry – Zech. 4:6.
11. Much greater peace in our hearts – Rom. 8:6.
Wayne Grudem
Being “filled with the Spirit” as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5:18 is not getting more of the Spirit, but yielding every area of our lives to the Spirit's empowering and direction – having our lives filled with God's Spirit as opposed to self. Eddie Rasnake The Book of Ephesians
“All the good that is ever done in the world is worked by the Holy Spirit and, as the Holy Spirit honors Jesus Christ, so He puts great honor upon the Holy Spirit. If you and I try, either as a Church or as individuals, to do without the Holy Spirit, God will soon do without us. Unless we reverently worship Him and believingly trust in Him, we shall find that we shall be like Samson when his locks were shorn. He shook himself as he had done before, but when the Philistines were upon him, he could do nothing against them. Our prayer must always be, ‘Holy Spirit, dwell with me! Holy Spirit, dwell with Your servants!’ We know that we are utterly dependent upon Him. Such is the teaching of our Master and Jesus Christ is ‘the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’”—C.H. Spurgeon 1894, Sermon #2358
“When I lie dying, when heart and flesh are failing me, when I shall have little else to think of but my Lord and the eternal state, then shall thoughts of Him pull up the floodgates of the river of bliss and let the very joy of Heaven into my heart! And, by His Grace, I shall be eager to be up and away! I shall not dread the pains, and groans, and dying strife of which some talk so much—but the sweetness of “my meditation of Him” shall make me forget even the bitterness of death, itself.”—C.H. Spurgeon 1895, Sermon #2403
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
To Be Like Jesus
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
~ Jesus (Matthew 5: 2-16)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Beware of Pride
Just a bit of humor to put things in perspective:
If you can start the day without a cigarette,
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches, and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct them,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend, If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then – my friend you are almost as good as your dog.
- unknown
If you can start the day without a cigarette,
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches, and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct them,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend, If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then – my friend you are almost as good as your dog.
- unknown
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Spurgeon: Bring True Converts Into the Church
“We do not consider soul-winning to be accomplished by hurriedly inscribing more names upon our church-roll, in order to show a good increase at the end of the year. This is easily done, and there are brethren who use great pains, not to say arts, to effect it; but if it be regarded as the Alpha and Omega of a minister’s efforts, the result will be deplorable. By all means let us bring true converts into the church, for it is a part of our work to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded them; but still, this is to be done to disciples, and not to mere professors; and if care be not used, we may do more harm than good at this point. To introduce unconverted persons to the church, is to weaken and degrade it; and therefore an apparent gain may be a real loss.”
- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
taken from: The Soul Winner
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Friday, February 3, 2012
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