Posts with the category “voices-from-the-past-vol-1”

Entering into temptation is not merely being tempted. We will never be free from temptation while Satan continues in his power and malice, and while the world and lust continue. There is no need to pr...  Read More

The nature of temptation is to lead us into sin. It may proceed either from Satan, the world, or from ourselves. Temptation may come singly from each of these, or they may join together their forces i...  Read More

God never tempts man to sin, and we are exhorted to pray against it. He does, however, test us and prove us. We see God testing Abraham. God tests us to show us what is in our heart. God would have us...  Read More

Solomon tells us of some that lie down on the top of a mast in the midst of the sea (Prov. 23:34). This is an accurate picture of men who are overtaken by a false security at the brink of destruction....  Read More

We do not stand before God in our own righteousness, but in the perfect, spotless, and matchless righteousness of the Lord Jesus. Weak hearts are apt to be troubled and discouraged when they look upon...  Read More

The least good that is done by the weakest saint will be highly regarded and rewarded. The disciples left a few old boats and torn nets, yet Christ told them that they would sit upon twelve thrones ju...  Read More

The Lord looks more upon your graces than he does upon your weaknesses. The Lord did not cast off Peter for his horrid sins, but rather looked upon him with an eye of love and pity: 'But go, tell his ...  Read More

God reflects upon the least good that is in or done by weak saints, with an eye of love. Is this not a glorious comfort and support? You cannot have a good thought, but God looks upon that thought wit...  Read More

Simple assent to the truth of the Word is but an act of the understanding. Reprobates and devils may exercise this, but justifying faith takes its seat both in the understanding and the will. The prom...  Read More

What methods should a Christian use in the battle of spiritual warfare to defy the enemy and vanquish him? Bring your lusts under the rule of your reason. Will you let your silly lust abuse you and be...  Read More

Get and keep a tender conscience. Be sensible of the least sin. Some men's consciences are like the stomach of the ostrich that can digest iron: they can swallow the most notorious sins without regret...  Read More

At times temptation presses in with violent demands. To combat the power and force of these we must prepare our hearts with strong antidotes beforehand. Fix your heart upon your true treasure, your fe...  Read More

These words present the way of conquering sin. It is the one great strategy against the powers of darkness if we would strangle the brats of night and hell as they seek to give birth. It crushes the e...  Read More

Bernard describes the steps of sin, and how it grows stronger. ‘At first it is only a possibility, then more probable, but still a heavy task. Next it is easy, and then light, and sweet, and at last n...  Read More

Our conscience is a silent reasoning of the mind that approves with delight that which we judge good, and disapproves with grief that which is evil. God has placed this in all men as a tribunal. It pr...  Read More

Converse much with Christ. Labour to be as David, continually with him. Communion with Christ will make you like him. It will engage and make you actually partakers of Christ's love. Delight to walk w...  Read More

Christ's love is personal. He chooses man by name personally and distinctly: 'He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out' (John 10:3). Some have questioned how Christ can love us when he denies...  Read More

The love of Christ—O boundless love! O the unsearchable riches of Christ's love! O happy souls that have interest in this love, in these riches! This love made God willing to be made a curse, the Lord...  Read More

Weak saints set their minds upon their blessings more than their works. Their minds are more interested in joy, peace, comfort, and assurance than their responsibilities of waiting on God, believing i...  Read More

We are not only to do God's will, but to also seek to do it with the proper motive. The manner in which we serve God should be considered more than the work itself. Motive is a main emphasis in Script...  Read More

The Lord works in us unto the very last. After conversion, he continues his grace to help us do his will. All we have is by his gracious gift. What can we be proud of? All of the excellencies that we ...  Read More

God is an eternal God, and he knows all things as present. In God's mind, all things are one point, not a succession of things. God's knowledge does not depend upon the revolutions of time. His knowed...  Read More

God is a perpetual refuge and security to his people. His providence is not combined to one generation. His bounty and compassion extend across the ages. His eyes have never slept. He has never allowe...  Read More

It is not those who just hear the Word, but do it. Many have the Word in their mind and memory, but not in their lives. The truly blessed men are those that consider it a great obligation to obey it. ...  Read More

The humble soul endeavours more how to glorify God in afflictions, than how to get out of them. Daniel, the three children, the apostles, and those worthies of whom this world was not worthy were such...  Read More

Christ worked out our salvation that we might have peace, joy, heaven and glory forever. He was set forth sweating blood in agony and wrestling with the thoughts of death which he was to suffer for ou...  Read More

The salvation of the soul is such a wonderful thing that no other thing should come before it. Men are ignorant of the worth of their souls, and their danger. Alas! How common it is for men to spend a...  Read More

If we pray, this is always sure: ‘If we ask, we shall receive.’ The Lord has said it; it is so, it must be so. How can we strengthen our faith to believe this? Consider these: (1.) Through faith in Ch...  Read More

To pray properly is not any easy matter. To pour out your heart and soul before God, to believe he hears and will come to help you; to pray in faith and to wrestle with him; to strive for a blessing a...  Read More

We may judge how we respect God’s name and kingdom by our obedience to his will. This request in the Lord's prayer seeks a soft and pliable heart that we might be ruled by him. Christ is not our king ...  Read More

The Christian is to proclaim and initiate an irreconcilable war against his choice sins. Those nearest his heart must now be trampled under his feet. This takes great courage and resolution. O how a l...  Read More

Christ Jesus set himself wholly apart for believers. We may say, 'Lord, condemnation was yours, that justification might be mine; agony was yours, and victory mine; pain was yours, and ease is mine; s...  Read More

Carnal reasoning will tell you that God does not see or govern, but has left the earth. But as we go into the presence of God we learn that all things are beautiful in their time (Eccles. 3:11). All o...  Read More

Sense is the light of beasts, reason the light of men, faith the light of saints, and vision the light of glory. The important issues of life can only be discerned by faith. In our immediate experienc...  Read More

As we grow in the knowledge of Christ's love, we enjoy more of the fullness of God. In heaven we will know fully what we now only know in part (1 Cor. 13:12). Although the love of Christ surpasses our...  Read More

You cannot mortify a specific lust that is troubling you, unless you are seeking to obey the Lord from the heart in all areas. If a man finds a particular lust that is powerful and violent and it take...  Read More

To constantly fight against sin is a big part of mortification. We need to recognize the enemy we are dealing with and that he is to be destroyed by all means possible. The battle is a hazardous one t...  Read More

As we walk with our God we desire his strength, comfort, power and peace. The realization of these, and thus the joy of our spiritual life, depends greatly upon the mortification of sin. The immediate...  Read More

The Holy Spirit is our only sufficiency for the work of mortification. He is the only great power behind it and he works in us as he pleases. God promised his Spirit for this very work. He alone works...  Read More

Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Do not take a day off from this work; always be killing sin or it will be killing you. We must strike it as an enemy until it ceases living. Sin is labo...  Read More