This Jesus of Nazareth!

 

This Jesus of Nazareth!

(Philip Schaff, 1866)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms—conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon.

Without science and learning—He shed more light on things human and divine, than all philosophers and scholars combined.

Without the eloquence of schools—He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet.

Without writing a single line—He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.

Born in a manger and crucified as a malefactor—He now controls the destinies of the civilized world, and rules a spiritual empire which embraces one-third of the inhabitants of the globe.

There never was in this world, a life so sincere, modest, and humble in its outward form and condition—and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astounding success, in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences—which are indispensable to success for a mere man.

Christ stands, in this respect also, solitary and alone among all the heroes of history, and presents to us an insolvable problem, unless we admit Him to be more than man—even the eternal Son of God!

"Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Matthew 16:16

The wisest arithmetic!

 

The wisest arithmetic!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom!" Psalm 90:12

I number my days aright, when I feel their fewness. To the imagination of the young, life seems long. They catch no echo of "the roar of the waves of eternity, as they dash on the shores of time"-so far away those shores appear to be. But the farther I advance in age, the more swiftly and imperceptibly the hours and weeks and years steal on. At the outset of the voyage, I mark my progress by the objects on the river-banks: trees, houses, towering hills. But, later, I have left the river, and am on the trackless sea; and the sea remorselessly impels me on. Soon I shall hear the cry, "Land ahead!" and my voyage of life will be finished and past!

I number my days aright, when I recall their uncertainty. Often they are abruptly broken, before they have attained their bound. "Lord, spare the green-and take the ripe," is a cry often sounded. But the cry is not always answered, and the child as well as the parent is laid in the churchyard grave.

Let me remember how brittle my years are-and let me seize hold upon eternal realities which cannot be shaken.

I number my days aright, also, if I compare them with the unchangeableness of God. The world  watches the generations come and go. But God is without beginning, and the millenniums have left Him unhurt by the tooth of time. How paltry my fourscore winters seem, in the light of His unending ages! Yes! but let me turn to Him. Let me cast myself on the Everlasting Arms, and the enduringness of my God will pass into my frailty and littleness.

And I number my days aright, if I think of them in relation to the limitless future. In one sense, I am easily robbed of them; in another sense, my years will come to no conclusion at all. As short as they are, they prelude an unimaginable, deathless existence. Now I am laying the foundations of an eternal palace-or of an eternal prison, from which I shall never leave. Now I am molding for myself a king's unfading crown-or a criminal's inexorable chain. And since such momentous outcomes hang on the slender thread of my fleeting days, let me live as one about to migrate to the eternal world, and let me be diligent in my Father's business.

This is, indeed, the wisest arithmetic!

The richest man in the universe!

The richest man in the universe!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

 The poorest man in the universe is rich—if he has the salvation of God in his soul!

In the same way, the richest man in the universe is poor, miserably poor—if he is destitute of God's salvation. 

Behold Paul and Silas in prison, their feet fast bound in the stocks, and their backs torn with scourges—and yet singing praises to God at midnight!
Were they poor?
No! They were rich, truly rich!

In the same way, in having God for our portion, we are truly rich.

Paul, under such circumstances, accounted himself the richest man in the universe! And so he was; for, "though he had nothing—yet he possessed all things!" 2 Corinthians 6:10

In the same way, even though we are at this moment destitute of bread for the morrow, it may be said with truth, that "All things are ours, if we are Christ's!" 1 Corinthians 3:22-23

Thus, if we can say, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup!" Psalm 16:5—then we may account ourselves richer than those who have crowns and kingdoms at their command!

The power of habit!

 

The power of habit!

(J.R. Miller, 1893)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

A stagecoach driver had held the leather reins for so many years, that when he began to grow old, his hands were crooked into hooks, and his fingers were so stiffened into that shape—that they could not be straightened out.

There is a similar process that goes on in men's minds and souls, when they continue to do the same things over and over.

If you are trained, and train yourself, from childhood . . .
  to be gentle and patient,
  to control your temper,
  to resist all wrong—
then your life will grow into moral beauty, and the peacefulness of your heart will at length shine upon your very face!

If, on the other hand, you give way from childhood . . .
  to all ugly tempers,
  to resentful feelings,
  to all bitterness and anger—
then your life will grow into permanent moral disfigurement.
 
One who accustoms himself to think of pure and holy things, who sets his affections on things above, and strives to reach for things which are true, things which are honorable, things which are lovely—will grow heavenward toward the things which he loves and thinks upon!

But one who lets his mind turn habitually . . .
  to debasing things,
  to unholy things,
  to impure things,
  to earthly things—
will find his whole soul bending downward—and growing sinful, corrupt, and evil!

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise!" Philippians 4:8

The Hell-Fire Club!

By Charles Spurgeon

(You will find it helpful to Listen to the Audio, as you read the text below.)

Jeremiah 23:29, "Is not My Word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?"

Mr. Thorpe was a member of an 'infidel' club. In those days infidelity was more blasphemous than now. This infidel society took the name of the "Hell-Fire Club". Among their amusements, was that of holding mock religious services, and exhibiting caricatures of popular ministers.

Thorpe went to hear George Whitfield preach, that he might caricature him before his wicked friends. He listened to Whitfield so carefully, that he caught his tones and his manner, and somewhat of his doctrines.

When the "Hell-Fire Club" met to see his caricature of Whitfield, Thorpe opened the Bible that he might take a text to preach from, after the manner of Whitfield. His eye fell on the passage, "Unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish!" As he spoke upon that text, he was carried beyond himself, lost all thought of mockery, spoke as one in earnest, and was the means of his own conversion! After his amazing conversion, Thorpe became a noted preacher of the gospel!

He was carried by the force of truth beyond his own intention, like one who would play in a river, and is swept away by its current.

In the same way, scoffers may be reached by the arrows of truth! Scripture has often been the sole means in the hands of its divine Author of converting the soul. 

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God!" 1 Peter 1:23

"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

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When We are Fearful – Dr. Charles Stanley

The original musical notes found in the Old Testament, played right before your eyes!