Oh, How He Loves!
Posted by jerrywhite on Sep 30, 2010
“How hard it is to talk of love in such a way as to convey what is really meant by it!
How often have my eyes been full of tears when I have realized the thought that Jesus loves me! How my spirit has been melted within me at the assurance that He thinks of me and carries me in His heart! But I cannot kindle the same emotion in others, nor can I give, in writing, so much as a faint idea of the bliss that is contained in that exclamation, ‘Oh, how He loves!’
Dear reader, can you say of yourself, ‘He loved me’? (See Galatians 2:20) Then look down into this sea of love, and try to guess its depth. Does it not stagger your faith that He loves you so? Or, if you have strong confidence, does it not enfold your spirit in a flame of admiration and adoring gratitude? Even the angels have never known such love as this! Jesus does not engrave their names upon His hands or call them His bride. No, this highest fellowship He reserves for worms such as ourselves, whose only response is tearful, hearty thanksgiving and love.”
Charles Spurgeon
Joy In Christ’s Presence, 72-73
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As the Father has loved me, so have I love you. Abide in my love.
John 15:9
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Our dear Heavenly Father intends for us to experience His love and not just know it as a Biblical fact. When we do, our heart is melted and our soul is filled (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:19).
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True Beauty
Posted by jerrywhite on Sep 27, 2010
He [Jesus Christ] had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
Isaiah 53:2 (ESV)
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The world emphasizes outward beauty. All kinds of body enhancements are performed in this generation so that someone moves closer to what they think will make them attractive. The world system is rooted in vanity and pride, and by means of magazines, television, storefront displays, and all other means of communications, it relentlessly imposes its message that outward appearance is what is most important. Indeed, I cannot imagine the Lord Jesus being sloppy in His appearance, nor should we as Christians be so. However, if physical beauty is so important then why did sovereign God send His Son as an unattractive man? For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV).
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“Our Lord Jesus Christ…did not come in the pomp of pride and arrogance, although He might have done so. Rather, He came in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For he says…’He has no form nor glory. Yes, we saw Him and He had no form nor comeliness. But His form was without eminence, yes deficient in comparison with the [ordinary] form of men.’”
Clement of Rome (90-100)
“Our Christ appeared without comeliness and inglorious.”
Justin Martyr (100-165)
“There was not in Him attractiveness or glory. We saw Him, and He had no attractiveness or grace. Rather, His manner was unhonored, deficient in comparison with the sons of men.”
Tertullian (160/70 – 215/20)
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Heaven’s Holy Breath
Posted by jerrywhite on Sep 23, 2010
“Our knees, then, must bow to Him who thus walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks. Back we must go until the glorious Lord stands among us in all the majesty of His Holy Person, and until the Church, which is His by gift of the Father and by His own purchase, comes under His complete control. For too long our remiss ways have shut the gates against the heavenly breathing of His Holy Spirit. Back we must go until the Lord Jesus is gloriously unveiled so that the fragrance of His Holy Presence becomes again the saviourness and power of the Gospel. It is only our full return to the first state of the Church which will once again make our faith strong and vigorous, active and confident, and without fear and doubting. It is our return to what the early Christians were which will once more make our worship spiritual and our prayers and devotions fervent and zealous. Those mighty acts wrought by the apostles are possible again but only when those who love Him walk with Him in white. Therefore, He says, ‘Do the first works’—that is, do ye as the first Christians did.”
Author Unknown
Quoted by Leonard Ravenhill
Revival Praying, 98
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I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
Revelation 2:5 (ESV)
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We see in the book of Acts what the Lord Jesus longs to do in His bride in every generation. He loves His church with tender, perfect love, and He gave all He could give for her. Will He who died in utmost anguish for her be satisfied now to see her be less than what He purchased for her? By His blood He purchased His beloved’s forgiveness and cleansing so His life could indwell and fill her to overflowing and therefore shine through her with the glory of who He is. How long—oh, how long— will we be content not to satisfy His heart by being His revived people? Please awaken us, Lord!
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Simple Devotion To Christ
Posted by jerrywhite on Sep 20, 2010
“Christ lives his life in us when we walk by the Spirit. Jesus is not our helper; he is our very life. Instead of making us stronger, God brings us to the point of weakness so that Christ can be strong in us (‘power is perfected in weakness’ [2 Corinthians 12:9-10].
‘Simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 11:3) is the essence of devotional spirituality and the key to renewing and sustaining the passion of our first love (Revelation 2:4). We all experience a natural inertia, a downward pull, an entropy of relational energy that deteriorates our communion with God and with others. Unless we are vigilant, the flame of our initial love for Christ can quietly diminish, and even the embers can grow cold. But if we are faithful to the practice of meditating on the glory of God and the beauty of Jesus, we will love him by beholding him. If we spend time with him, practice his presence, follow him, and learn from him, we will love him and become like him.”
Kenneth Boa
Conformed to His Image, 190-191
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Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1 (ESV)
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The Lord Jesus had just finished praying. The disciples had often seen him go aside to pray (Luke 5:16). Time alone with His Father held the place of priority in His life. The disciples concluded from watching His lifestyle that prayer was the secret of His life. They had seen the same in John the Baptist. They wanted to know how they could pray this way.
We seem so slow to learn this life changing lesson. Time alone with our incomparable Lord is the secret for staying fresh in our walk with Him. Continuing to drink from His living water is necessary for rivers to keep flowing from our inner being. Prayer is essential for knowing the Father’s will. True lovers of Christ pursue this practice.
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Yearning After The Spirit
Posted by jerrywhite on Sep 15, 2010
“Mr. Spurgeon cried fervently to his flock, as he pleaded for a recognition of the Spirit’s presence. ‘Death and condemnation to a church that is not yearning after the Spirit, and crying and groaning until the Spirit has wrought mightily in her midst. He is here; He has never gone back since He descended at Pentecost. He is often grieved and vexed, for He is peculiarly jealous and sensitive, and the one sin never forgiven has to do with His blessed Person; therefore let us be very tender towards Him, walk humbly before Him, wait on Him very earnestly, and resolve that there should be nothing knowingly continued which would prevent Him working in our midst.
Brethren, if we do not have the Spirit of God, it were better to shut the churches, to nail up the doors, to put a black cross on them and say: ‘“God have mercy on us!’” If you ministers have not the Spirit of God, you had better not preach, and you people had better stay at home. I think I speak not too strongly when I say that a church in the land without the Spirit of God is rather a curse than a blessing. This is a solemn word; the Holy Spirit—or nothing, and worse than nothing.”
James A. Stewart
Heaven’s Throne Gift, 48
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How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!
Luke 11:13 (Amplified Bible)
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The Lord Jesus could do nothing without the Spirit of God. Neither can we. He clearly taught us to ask and continue to ask for the Spirit. Often our asking is perfunctory and casual rather than with an urgency of serious longing. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can minister a strong awareness of God’s presence. This was the power of the early church. They prayed with desperation and God answered dramatically. If them, why not us?
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