Some Quotes by John Bunyan \u2013 1628-1688, England, Preacher, Pastor, Author of \u2018Pilgrim\u2019s Progress\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cThe difference between true and false repentance lies in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his heart; but the other, as Eve, against the serpent, or something else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cThe reason why Christians in this day are at such a loss as to some things is that they are contented with what comes from man’s mouth, without searching and kneeling before God to know of Him the truth of things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cPray and read, read and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal from men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cHe who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cIf people really see that Christ has removed the fear of punishment from them by taking it into Himself, they won’t do whatever they want, they’ll do whatever He wills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cNo man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cIn times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cWhat God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cAs your faith is, such your hope will be. Hope is never ill when faith is well, nor strong if faith be weak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— \u201cIn all your prayers forget not to thank the Lord for his mercies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christ is lovely, Christ is very lovely, Christ is most lovely, Christ is always lovely, Christ is altogether lovely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thomas Brooks<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world did not see Christ in Christ and did not see holiness in the Holy One but crucified Him as a vile and wicked man. Do not ever imagine that the world will see Christ or holiness in you. Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every attribute of God was focussed at the cross, and he that hath eyes to look through his tears, and see the wounds of Jesus, shall behold more of God there than a whole eternity of providence or an infinity of creation shall ever be able to reveal to him. Well might the trembling centurion, as he watched the cross, exclaim, \u201cTruly, this was the Son of God.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
C. H. Spurgeon <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Holy Spirit does not reach after something novel, new, nor spectacular in order to glorify Christ or to preach Christ to men. He does not need tongues, fleshly emotion, bodily healings, and creature fame and importance in order to bring glory to Christ and call out His sheep. He finds Christ\u2019s glory IN CHRIST HIMSELF! If we want to honour Christ, glorify Christ, and preach Christ, we must not look for something outside of Christ; but we must honour Him by preaching that which is His already \u2013 His deity, His person, His man-hood, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession, His return! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry Mahan <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faith is nothing more or less than agreeing with God about who I am (a sinner) and what I have done (nothing but sin) and who Christ is (God\u2019s Son) and what He has done (given His life a ransom for many). God entrusted the souls of His chosen people to His Son, the Lord Jesus. When we trust the Son of God to save us, all we are doing is putting the same confidence in Christ that God did. God\u2019s trust was well-placed, for the Lord boasted (and the Father did not contradict Him) \u201cThose you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost.\u201d And we may have the same confidence that, if we entrust ourselves to Christ, He will not lose us, but will raise us up in the last day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe Terrell <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I challenge anyone to put his or her finger on one Scripture in the Holy Bible where Christ ever turned away a truly repentant sinner. You will not find one! Many came in pride that were turned away. Many came in religion that were soon drawn away. Yet never was there one desperate sinner who came with great need and desire to be healed that was ever denied His grace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Eddmenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GOD\u2019S FREE AND SOVEREIGN GRACE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doctrine of God\u2019s free and sovereign grace is the greatest encouragement to poor, lost, helpless sinners. One who knows himself to be without merit before God, with no plea to make unto God but for mercy, will he not be glad to hear that the Lord does not look for worthiness in those He saves? Will he not be glad to hear that God has freely provided the only plea which He will accept – the life, death, and mediation of His Son, the Lord Jesus? Will it not make his heart glad to learn that God saves sinners freely and sovereignly, through faith in His Son? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NO MAN, though ever so sinful and vile, is discouraged by the Gospel of the free and sovereign grace of God in Christ Jesus! NO MAN, notwithstanding how moral and humanly good, can have any ground of true hope without this Gospel! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However sinful man is so proud, so self-righteous, so sinful and deceived about himself, that when it is declared unto him that God saves sinners on purpose, fully free and forever, with no regard to human worth, works, or merit – he is offended, gets angry and seeks another preacher with another message (unless God intervenes!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell sinful man that God has merely made salvation available and that it is up to sinners to avail themselves of it; that they must do or perform something to obtain it, and they set to work as happy as can be (saving themselves). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe hath filled the hungry with good things; <\/p>\n\n\n\n
and the rich He hath sent empty away.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Luke 1:52 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maurice Montgomery <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest<\/strong>!” Matthew 11:28<\/p>\n\n\n\n The learned<\/em> have a variety of arguments<\/em> whereby to prove the Scripture to be the Word of God. But though that kind of proof, which may be brought in a way of reasoning <\/em>and external evidence<\/em>, is doubtless useful upon proper occasions. Yet, I apprehend, the chief and most satisfactory argument to those who are capable of receiving it, arises from the correspondence between the subject matter of the Scripture, and the state of an awakened mind. When the eyes of the understanding are opened, we begin to see everything around us, to be just so as the Scripture has described them. Then, and not until then, we perceive, that what we read in the Bible concerning the horrid evil of sin, the vileness of our fallen nature, the darkness and ignorance of those who know not God, our own emptiness, and the impossibility of finding relief and comfort from creatures, is exactly true. “He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45<\/p>\n\n\n\n And as we find our disease <\/em>precisely described, so we perceive a suitableness in the proposed remedy<\/em>. We need a Saviour<\/strong>, and he must be a mighty one; but though our needs and sins, our fears and enemies, are great and numerous, we are convinced that the character of Christ is sufficient to answer them all. We need a rest<\/strong>, a rest which the world cannot give. Inquire where we will among the creatures, experience brings in the same answer from all, “It is not in me!” This again confirms the Word of God, which has forewarned us that we shall meet nothing but disappointment in such worldly pursuits. But there is a spiritual rest spoken of which we know to be the very thing we need, and all our remaining solicitude is how to attain it. From hence, as I said, we may assuredly conclude, that the book which gives us such just views of everything that passes, must be given by inspiration from Him who is the searcher of hearts. This proof is equally plain and conclusive to all capacities that are spiritually enlightened, and such only are able to understand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Newton<\/p>\n\n\n\n Called, Chosen, Faithful<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Revelation 17:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are no exceptions to this rule. All who are with Christ have been called by Christ. The call heard is the Gospel. \u201cWhereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ\u201d (2 Thess. 2:14). The reason they were called is they are chosen. \u201cAccording as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world\u201d (Eph. 1:4). And the evidence they were chosen was that they were faithful. They believed and they could be believed. \u201cAnd as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Todd Nibert<\/p>\n\n\n\n People Ought To Be Asking<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.\u201d – I Peter 3:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ought to treat people in such a kind, merciful, and nonjudgemental way, and to handle the trials the Lord sends me in a way that people ask me the reason for the hope that is in me that makes me conduct myself in such a way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul expressed the desire to the Thessalonians that, \u201cWe might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith\u201d (I Thess. 3:10). That should serve as a reminder to us that there is most certainly something lacking in our faith and that the Lord through His Word would perfect it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Todd Nibert<\/p>\n\n\n\n The chief burden of the Lord’s children<\/strong> Your Almighty Friend!<\/strong> The one true resting place!<\/strong> None are too sinful, too base, too vile, or too far gone!<\/strong> Some Quotes by John Bunyan \u2013 1628-1688, England, Preacher, Pastor, Author of \u2018Pilgrim\u2019s Progress\u2019 — \u201cThe difference between true and false repentance lies in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his heart; but the other, as Eve, against the serpent, or something else.\u201d — \u201cThe reason why Christians in this day are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7303"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7304,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7303\/revisions\/7304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/strong>(Philpot)
The chief burden of the Lord’s children<\/strong> is sin.<\/strong> This
is the main cause of all their sighs and groans, from
the first quickening breath of the Spirit of God in
their hearts until they lay down their bodies in dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Octavius Winslow, “Christ, the Mighty God”)
“His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God<\/em>, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!” Isaiah 9:6
Because Jesus is the almighty God, His people have an almighty burden-bearer.
We are a burdened people. Every believer carries a burden peculiar to himself.
What is your<\/em> burden, O believer?
Is it indwelling sin?
Is it some natural infirmity of the body?
Is it a constitutional weakness?
Is it some domestic trial?
Is it a personal or relative trial?
Is it a state of poverty?
Is it the decay of health?
Is it soul anxiety?
Is it mental despondency?
It is well that you are sensible of the pressure, that you feel your weakness and insufficiency, and that you are brought to the end of all your own power. Now turn to your Almighty Friend<\/strong>, who is the Creator of the ends of the earth, even the everlasting God, who does not faint, neither is weary. Come, oppressed and burdened believer, ready to give up all and sink-behold Jesus, the Almighty God, omnipotent to transfer your burden to Himself, and give you rest!
How precious is the promise addressed to you! “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have<\/em> no might he increaseth strength. <\/sup>Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall: <\/sup>but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their<\/em> strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and<\/em> they shall walk, and not faint!” Isaiah 40:29-31
<\/strong>
Oh, what strength there is in Jesus for the weak, and faint and drooping of His flock!
You are ready to succumb to your foes, and you think that the battle of faith is lost. Cheer up! Jesus, your Saviour, friend, and brother, is “the Almighty God,” and will perfect His strength in your weakness. He . . .
sustains our infirmities,
bears our burdens,
supplies our needs, and
encircles us with the shield of His Almightiness!
What a Divine spring of consolation and strength to the tired and afflicted saint, is the Almightiness of Jesus. Your sorrow is too deep, your affliction is too heavy, your difficulty is too great for any human to resolve. It distances in its intensity and magnitude, the sympathy and the power of man.
Come, you . . .
who are tempest-tossed and not comforted;
whose spirit is wounded,
whose heart is broken,
whose mind is bowed down to the dust-
and hide within Christ’s sheltering Almightiness!
Jesus is equal to your condition.
His strength<\/em> is almighty!
His love<\/em> is almighty!
His grace<\/em> is almighty!
His sympathy<\/em> is almighty!
His arm<\/em> is almighty!
His resources<\/em> are infinite, fathomless, measureless!
Almighty to rescue, He is also your Brother and Friend to sympathise. And while His Divine arm encircles, upholds, and keeps you-His human soul, touched with the feeling of your infirmities, yearns over you with all the deep intensity of its compassionate tenderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>
(“Words to Winners of Souls” by Horatius Bonar)
The one true resting place where doubt and
weariness, the stings of an accusing conscience,
and the longings of an unsatisfied soul can all
be quieted, is Christ himself.
Not the church, but Christ.
Not doctrine, but Christ.
Not forms, but Christ.
Not ceremonies, but Christ.
Christ, Christ alone is the vexed soul’s refuge,
its rock to build on, its home to abide in till
the great tempter be bound and every conflict
ended in victory.
It is not opinions that man needs: it is Truth.
It is not theology: it is God.
It is not religion: it is Christ.
It is not literature and science; but the
knowledge of the free love of God in the
gift of His only begotten Son.
All other things are but opiates, drugs,
quackeries; this is the divine medicine;
this is the sole, the speedy, the eternal cure.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Don Fortner)
“A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus<\/em>; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
Jesus said to him: Today salvation has come to this house!”<\/em> Luke 19:2, 9
It is always profitable for our souls to read about the conversion of a sinner by God’s omnipotent grace. It is especially profitable to read and study the stories of God’s converting grace given to us in the pages of Holy Scripture. We should read them often and study them with care, asking God the Holy Spirit to teach us the wonders of His grace. When we read about these conversions, we find our hearts saying, “That is what the Lord has done for me<\/strong>!”<\/em>
We see here the story of Zacchaeus’ conversion by the Lord Jesus. He was saved by omnipotent grace. What He did for Zacchaeus, He still does for sinners today. Never cease to adore and give thanks to God our Saviour for His sovereign, distinguishing grace! He who has mercy on whom He will have mercy, has not left us to ourselves!
Grace Omnipotent<\/strong>
Zacchaeus’ conversion tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation is omnipotent and irresistible. None are too sinful, too base, too vile, or too far gone<\/strong> for Christ to save! His arm is not shortened that He cannot save. Oh, no! His mighty arm is omnipotent in the operations of His grace! None are beyond the reach of His omnipotent mercy!<\/em>
Here is a notorious publican<\/em> transformed into a saint.
Here is a rich man<\/em> made to pass through the needle’s eye into the kingdom of God.
Here is a covetous man<\/em> transformed instantaneously into a self-sacrificing philanthropist!
Our all-glorious, ever-gracious Christ is able to save to the uttermost! Here is a Physician before whom none are incurable! Yes, Jesus Christ still makes the lame to walk again and causes the blind to see!
Sovereign Election<\/strong>
Salvation comes to chosen sinners because the purpose of God according to election is sure. Like you and me, Zacchaeus was . . .
a sinner by birth<\/em>,
a sinner by nature<\/em>,
a sinner by choice<\/em>, and
a sinner by practice<\/em>.
But he was distinguished from all others in the crowd that day by God’s distinguishing grace, and effectually called because God had from the beginning chosen him to salvation.
O my soul, roll these things over in your heart day by day. Never lose sight of them. The Son of God had His eye upon you<\/em> from eternity, just as He had his eye upon Zacchaeus.
You were chosen by Him in everlasting love! (Ephesians 1:3-4)
Your name was written in the Book of Life before the worlds were made! (Revelation 13:8; Luke 10:20)
You were one of those sheep given to the Good Shepherd by the Father from old eternity! (John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"