A Bouquet of Christian Graces
(Col. 3: 1-13)
In the third chapter of Colossians the Apostle gives us a bouquet of Christian graces which should adorn every believer's life. It is not enough to be saved from sin or merely to be sanctified. There are degrees far deeper t ... read more
A Feast of Fat Things
"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And th ... read more
A Sanctified Body
There are enough mysteries connected with the human body to convince the most incredulous mind of the existence of an omnipotent God. It is no wonder that the "Sweet Singer of Israel" cried out, "Man is fearfully and wonderfully made. He is m ... read more
A Sanctified Soul
In the previous chapter we learned that the spirit is the higher part -- the region of the conscience and of the will. The soul is the seat of the affections, understanding, emotions and tastes. We are told by the best scholars that the word "s ... read more
A Sanctified Spirit
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." -- 1 Thess. 5:23
Man has been called a trinity according to t ... read more
A Well Rounded Character
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye mig ... read more
According to the Pattern
When Moses, the leader of Israel, was called up to Mt. Sinai, he left the multitudes in the plains below and ascended the holy mount alone, where he spent forty days with the Lord. During that time the Ten Commandments were given him, and also a ... read more
Administering and Receiving Reproof
"Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head" (Psalm 141:5).
One of the surest signs that we are progressing in the divine life and grow ... read more
Beginning the Day with God
"When I awake, I am still with Thee" (Psalm 189:18).
A careful observation of more than twenty years has thoroughly convinced us that if a person would live a real Christian life and have power with God and man, it will be nec ... read more
Beware of Jesting
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23)
Among the many beautiful thoughts springing from the life of our blessed Redeemer which grea ... read more
Breaking the Alabaster Box
"Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took ... read more
Bringing Christianity into Disrepute
"Let not then your good be evil spoken of" (Rom. 14:16).
It is a well-known fact that no matter how piously one may live, he will never obtain the confidence of every one or ever reach a plane where he is exempt from criticism. ... read more
Carnality
"But Saul and the people spared Agag." (1 Sam. 15:9)
While there are several figures and characters used in the Holy Scriptures as types of Christ and the Holy Ghost, there are also two special characters used as symbols of carn ... read more
Christ Enthroned Within
(Col. 1:27)
There is nothing higher or deeper in human experience than to be God possessed -- a temple of the Holy Ghost. This is the climax of the Atonement. It is the very cream and marrow of Christianity. The Apostle says this mystery ha ... read more
Conscience, Record and Judgment
Now while everybody prays, I shall invite your prayerful attention to three passages of Scripture:
Acts 24:16 "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men."
... read more
Dangers of Resisting the Holy Ghost
"Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." Acts 7:51.
These words were taken from that eloquent, pointed, fiery sermon by the holy Stephen delivered at Jerusalem before a council of the high church officials. The Sanhedrin, the Phari ... read more
Getting Properly Started
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness In himself" (1 John 5:10)
The starting-point in the way of Christianity has proved to be the weal or woe point to thousands of immortal souls. Therefore, the greatest care is ... read more
God's Palm Tree Saints
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." -- Psalm 92:12.
God often compares His people to trees. But whenever He does, He selects the fruit-bearing palm to represent the Spirit-filled believer. There is a divine reason for this. The palm t ... read more
Going Back to the Altar
"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel" (Gen. 35:1).
Since we are dwelling in the enemy's land and are not beyond the possibility of falling from grace, it may be well, right here, to hurriedly relate the experience o ... read more
Grieving the Spirit
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."-- Eph. 4:30
The Holy Spirit is like a great, sensitive lover who has been sent forth to woo and win our affection and love to Jesus. Ther ... read more
Hidden Manna
"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna" (Rev. 2:17).
There are three hidden things referred to in the Word of God which greatly interest the writer. One is found in Job 28:7, 8, which reads as follows: " ... read more
How to Determine Our Calling
"Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee" (Jer. 1:17).
In the chapter before us we have one of the most delicate subjects in the catalog of a Christian's experience. The question ... read more
How to Keep Free in the Meeting
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).
My purpose in this chapter is to give the convert a few brief hints on how to keep free and enjoy the meetings. One must be in possession of th ... read more
How to Listen to a Straight Sermon
"Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." (1 Sam. 8:9)
The convert must also learn how to listen to strong sermons without casting away his confidence or becoming crippled. Many an honest soul after hearing a straight sermon has b ... read more
How to Treat Doubtful Things
"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23)
The devil is aware of the fact that it would be no easy matter to induce a newly converted soul to ... read more
How to Treat Inspiration
"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew Thee that Thou art a hard man, reaping where Thou hast not sown, and gathering where Thou hast not strewed" (Matt 25:24).
There are two lamentable features f ... read more
Obeying the Checks
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14).
No doubt by this time the newly converted soul has become acquainted with the Christian's guide, the blessed Holy Spirit, therefore, it will be ... read more
On Being True
"We are true men" (Gen. 42:11).
The word true is used as an adverb when establishing a fact, statement, or declaration, but here in the text it is used as an adjective, referring to principle, genuineness, uprightness and sincer ... read more
Paul's Conversion
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:3-5)
It i ... read more
Pentecost and Its Results
"But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." --- Luke 24:49
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." -- Acts 2:4
Pentecost, with its fiery baptism, was an epoch in the lives of the d ... read more
Planted in the Proper Soil
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, b ... read more
Satan's First Attack
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil" (Matt.4:1)
Because we have broken ranks with sin and the world and enlisted in the army of Jesus Christ is by no means a sign that Satan will nev ... read more
Seed Thoughts
* Who of us believe unwaveringly that for every idle word we speak, we shall have to give an account thereof in the day of judgment?
* We exercise faith and confidence in frail, dying men who are subject to various contingencies ... read more
Signs of a Growing Soul
There are at least three things that God desires of His children. First, God wants us to have a growth in grace in order that we shall be well rounded in our Christian experience. Second, God wants every grace and fruit which flourished and grew in the bo ... read more
Some Dangers in Not Going on to Perfection
"Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become ... read more
Some Disappointments at the Judgment
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name ... read more
Spiritual Development
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ... read more
Spiritual Lessons from the Trees
Among the many admirable and attractive pieces of divine workmanship seen in the world today there is hardly one to be found more instructive and inspiring than a tall, majestic tree, as it lifts its bushy head above the woody maze and stretches ... read more
Spring In The Desert
"Springs in the desert" can be fully appreciated only by the people of the far off East, who have experienced the hardships of long marches over endless stretches of sand, with burning heat like a monstrous furnace. A spring or fountain with its cool, r ... read more
The Anointing
"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God." -- 2 Cor. 1:21
There are five beautiful emblems of the Holy Spirit: wind, water, fire, dove and oil.
The Spirit, as wind, revives an ... read more
The Blood of Jesus
"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
Faith in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus is the touchs ... read more
The Blood of Sprinkling
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb. 12:24
In the above passage I want to call your attention to three remarkable statements.
... read more
The Change from Joy to Soul-Burden
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1 Cor. 12:7).
There will hardly be an experience more perplexing and confusing to the newly converted than the sudden change through which he passes f ... read more
The Chastening of the Lord
"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord" (Heb. 12:5).
As earthly parents sometimes find it necessary to reprove, correct and chastise their children for acts of disobedience, just so does our heavenly Father. We rea ... read more
The Comforter
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." -- St. John 14:16.
Before Christ departed, He introduced to us the Comforter who was to continue His work, whom the Fathe ... read more
The Curse of Disobedience
"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Sam. 15:23).
There is no theme in the blessed Book of God which converts need to be impressed with more frequently than the "Curse of ... read more
The Danger of Being Sidetracked
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph. 5:11)
We frankly admit that error and false doctrine are some of Satan's most successful means of recapturing souls. However, while ... read more
The Double Portion Blessing
"And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." (2 Kings 2:9)
"If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you." (John 16:7)
What the Bible does not give us by precept and ... read more
The Ear of God
"The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are opened unto their cry" (Psa. 34:15).
It is quite difficult to throw off the embarrassment of being slighted or overlooked. It also places us in rather a strange pred ... read more
The Heavenly Anointing
God has been pleased to represent the anointing of the Holy Spirit under the emblem of oil. We have an account of the composition and use of the anointing oil in Exodus 30:22-33. "Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee princ ... read more
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