Alone with God
Now Playing: Do we desire fellowship alone with God ?
Topic: Devotion
Alone With God

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24).

Left alone! What different sensations those words conjure up to each of us. To some they spell loneliness and desolation, to others rest and quiet. To be left alone without God, would be too awful for words, but to be left alone with Him is a foretaste of Heaven! If His followers spent more time alone with Him, we should have spiritual giants again.

The Master set us an example. Note how often He went to be alone with God; and He had a mighty purpose behind the command, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."

The greatest miracles of Elijah and Elisha took place when they were alone with God. It was alone with God that Jacob became a prince; and just there that we, too, may become princes--"men (aye, and women too!) wondered at" (Zech. 3:8).

Joshua was alone when the Lord came to him. (Josh. 1:1) Gideon and Jephthah were by themselves when commissioned to save Israel. (Judges 6:11 and 11:29) Moses was by himself at the wilderness bush. (Exodus 3:1-5) Cornelius was praying by himself when the angel came to him.(Acts 10:2) No one was with Peter on the house top, when he was instructed to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9) John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness (Luke 1:90), and John the Beloved alone in Patmos, when nearest God. (Rev.1:9)

Covet to get alone with God. If we neglect it, we not only rob ourselves, but others too, of blessing, since when we are blessed we are able to pass on blessing to others. It may mean less outside work; it must mean more depth and power, and the consequence, too, will be "they saw no man save Jesus only."

To be alone with God in prayer cannot be over-emphasized.

"If chosen men had never been alone, In deepest silence open-doored to God, No greatness ever had been dreamed or done."

Divine Worship
Now Playing: Do you give all your worship and devotion to Him alone ?
Topic: Devotion
The Majority Can Be Wrong

1 Kings 18:25-29

As the majority group, the worshipers of Baal had been given first chance. Because there were so many of them it took them only a very short time to prepare the sacrifice. As is often the case in matters that pertain to God, however, the majority was on the wrong side.

When Elijah admonished these idolatrous priests not to put any fire under their offering, he was warning them that he would not stand for any tricks. They had often deceived people, but what they were now doing was out in the open with many eyes watching them. There was no opportunity given to these tricksters and imposters to use fire on the altar to Baal.

The frenzy of Baal's prophets reached its height at noon. In the excitement generated by the rhythm and speed of the priests' action, it would not have taken a great deal for the people watching them to have been swept off their feet emotionally and to have joined in the wild orgy.

But Elijah was ready for this very thing. He very effectively used the weapon of sarcasm to expose the intentions of these evil men and at the same time to insure emotional stability among the observers.

It is possible that Israel had never seen such earnestness and enthusiasm at any previous time. But such things are no proof that the cause is good and true. Some people assume that such a display of zeal and fervor is evidence of spirituality; however, this can be far from the truth.

"The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength" (Ps. 33:16, NASB).

Narrow Path, but a Wide Heart
Now Playing: How do we find a spiritual balance in our present world ?
Topic: Walk
To combine a narrow path with a wide heart;

It is one of our great difficulties at the present moment - indeed it has ever been a difficulty - to combine a narrow path with a wide heart. There is very much on all sides tending to produce isolation. We cannot deny it. Links of human friendship seem so fragile; so many things crop up to shake confidence; so many things which one cannot possibly sanction, that the path becomes more and more isolated. All this is unquestionably true.

But we must be very careful as to how we meet this condition of things. We have little idea how much depends on the spirit in which we carry ourselves in the midst of scenes and circumstances which, all must admit, are uniquely trying. For example, I may retreat in upon myself and become bitter, gloomy, severe, repulsive, withered up, having no heart for the Lord's people, for His service, for the holy and happy exercises of the assembly.

I may become barren of good works, having no sympathy with the poor, the sick, the sorrowful. I may live in the narrow circle in which I have withdrawn, thinking only of myself and my personal and family interests.

What can be more miserable than this? It is the most deplorable selfishness, but we do not see it because we are blinded by our inordinate occupation with other people's failures. Now it is a very easy matter to find flaws and faults in our brethren and friends.

But the question is, How are we to meet these things? Is it by retreating in upon ourselves? Never! To do this is to render ourselves as miserable in ourselves as we are worthless, and worse than worthless, to others. There are few things more pitiable than what we call "a disappointed man." He is always finding fault with others. He has never discovered the real root of the matter or the true secret of dealing with it.

He has retired, but within himself He is isolated, but his isolation is utterly false. He is miserable; and he will make all who come under his influence - all who are weak and foolish enough to listen to him - as miserable as himself. He has completely broken down in his practical career; he has succumbed to the difficulties of his time and proved himself wholly unequal to meet the stem realities of actual life. Then, instead of seeing and confessing this, he retires into his own narrow circle and finds fault with everyone except himself.

How truly delightful and refreshing to turn from this dismal picture to the only perfect Man who ever trod this earth! His path was indeed an isolated one - none more so. He had no sympathy from the scene around Him. "The world knew Him not." "He came unto His own (Israel), and His own received Him not." "He looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but He found none."

Even His own beloved disciples failed to sympathize with, or understand Him. They slept on the mount of transfiguration in the presence of His glory and they slept in the garden of Gethsemane in the presence of His agony. They roused Him out of His sleep with their unbelieving fears and were continually intruding upon Him with their ignorant questions and foolish notions.

How did He meet all this? In perfect grace, patience and tenderness. He answered their questions; He corrected their notions; He hushed their fears; He solved their difficulties; He met their need; He made allowance for their infirmities; He gave them credit for devotedness in the moment of desertion; He looked at them through His own loving eyes and loved them, notwithstanding all. "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."

Christian reader,

Let us seek to drink into our blessed Master's spirit and walk in His footsteps.
Then our isolation will be of the right kind, and though our path may be narrow, the heart will be large.
CHM

Near to the Lord Jesus
Now Playing: Are we yearning for closeness with our Saviour
Topic: Poetry
In the bright days that marked the beginning of the testimony of "brethren gathered to the Lord's name", a young widow of nobility opened her castle for meetings which proved to be a tremendous blessing in exercising the heart of JND and otherservants of the Lord as to the heavenly calling of the Church and eventually led to these saints being gathered outside the organizations of Christendom.

That young widow was Lady Theodosia Powerscourt, a woman of rare devotion to the Lord and discernment. For a while JND and she contemplated marriage, but he felt married life would hinder the service to Christ for which he is so well-known and respected. His biographer, Max Wurmchuk, suggests JND left Lady Powerscourt with a broken heart.

Below we give a poem of Lady Powerscourt's which gives a sense of her unusual devotion to Christ.
`Lord, all my desire is before thee' - Psalm 38:9

By Lady T A Powerscourt

Lord, let my heart still turn to Thee,
In all my hours of waking thought!
Nor let this heart e'er wish to flee,
To think, or feel, where Thou art not!


In every hour of pain or woe,
When nought on earth this heart can cheer,
When sighs will burst, and tears will flow,
Lord, hush the sigh, and chase the tear!


In every dream of earthly bliss,
Do Thou, dear Saviour, present be!
Nor let me dream of happiness
On earth, without the thought of Thee!


To my last lingering thought at night,
Do Thou, Lord Jesus, still be near,
And ere the dawn of opening light,
In still small accents wake mine ear!


Whene'er I read Thy sacred word,
Bright on the page in glory shine!
And let me say, `This precious Lord
In all His full salvation's mine.'


And when before the throne I kneel,
Hear from that throne of grace my prayer;
And let each hope of heaven I feel,
Burn with the thought to meet Thee there


Thus teach me, Lord, to look to Thee,
In ev'ry hour of waking thought,
Nor let me ever wish to be,
To think or feel where Thou are not! Amen.


T. A. P.

Ministry
Now Playing: Are we working for Him in very practical ways ?
Topic: Service
It is a very great mistake to suppose that the work of God depends upon great powers. I do not deny that there is such a thing as God giving a man gift according to his ability, because the Lord Himself says so. And I do not mean that the same gift is to be in a man of small ability as in a man of large ability.

Certainly not; but I still say that there is a work that is suitable even where the ability may be ever so small, and a work that can be done better by that man of small ability than by the man of larger; for that very fact shows him his own proper work, whereas another work can be done not only as well, but better, by another. In short, there is no place where the right person in the right place is more important than in the church of God, and the Holy Ghost fills and fits the servants. I do not mean, now, merely those that preach, and those that teach, for there is no greater blunder than to suppose that this, and this only is the work of the Lord.

Indeed, what is called "ministry" is distinguished from "preaching," as you will find in Romans 12. The apostle speaks about the teacher giving himself to his teaching, but he that ministereth to his ministry; now-a-days people call "ministry" -- merely preaching or teaching. But that is not the language of the Holy Ghost. There is a great deal of serving -- saints' serving -- that is done by persons who have no such power.

And hence you find a phrase that is very common among us, that is, of people saying, "I was ministering such a day. I was ministering," or something of that kind; or, "Some other person was ministering." Well, now, this is only a mistake. The fact is, perhaps, that it would be no great loss if there was less ministering in that way, and more ministering in a real way.

In short, that which God calls us to is simply to do His will, but we are apt to prefer that which falls in with our own thoughts and our own feelings and our own notions, instead of finding that in which God blesses us most. Now, the caring for souls -- the binding up of those that are broken in spirit -- the interesting ourselves in the troubles and trials and difficulties of the saints of God -- is of great price with Him, and there is that kind of ministering that, I am afraid, is very imperfectly performed amongst us.

This is really the meaning of ministry -- not so much speaking. I do not wish to depreciate what is said. It would not become me; it would not become anyone. But I affirm that Scripture distinguishes ministry from mere speaking, and that is what I refer to. (W.Kelly)

Overcoming Evil
Now Playing: Can we stand against the enemy?
Topic: Resist
Through God's grace there was a decision to stand against the evil, and then the enemy sought to turn the attention from the real point, to the manner and ways of those who were acting.

As in the old question as to the Person of Christ some thirty years ago, so it is now; so much was made of the way the thing was dealt with, those who made that a prominent point, seeming to forget that in such struggles it is not surprising that the weakness of the flesh should be seen; but what does it prove?

Why, how incapable we were to meet such an attack, and that during the interval, between the former one and the present, there had not been "a redeeming the time," a "gathering up of strength so as to be ready," a "being clad with the whole armour of God."

Has there been the attention to that part of the armour, "the breastplate of righteousness," and have "the loins been girt about with truth"? Has there been that attitude of dependence which is shewn by "praying always" and "watching thereunto"?

Do not these circumstances exhibit failure in these respects? No real profit can accrue to us by dwelling on this or that failure, we get insensibly assimilated to it by so doing the spiritual eye discerns evil and failure by progressing in the knowledge of that which is holy and true; as in spirit John: the untrue is made apparent by the true: what is of darkness is understood in the light, and what is of Satan by what is of God.

A call to Gilgal
JND Misc writings volume 36

Finding the Right Way
Now Playing: What is the proper way for the believer ?
Topic: Verses
Genesis 24:48

And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

Numbers 20:17

Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Numbers 22:26

And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

Deuteronomy 2:27

Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the highway, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

1 Samuel 12:23

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

1 Kings 8:32

Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

1 Kings 11:38

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in My ways, and do that is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

1 Kings 22:43

And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

2 Kings 22:2

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

2 Chronicles 6:23

Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

2 Chronicles 20:32

And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:2

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

Ezra 8:21

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Job 17:9

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Job 22:3

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Job 30:12

Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their
destruction.

Psalms 1:6

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalms 5:8

Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.

Psalms 85:13

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Psalms 107:7

And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Psalms 119:128

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Psalms 145:17

The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.

Proverbs 2:20

That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

Proverbs 4:11

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

Proverbs 8:20

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Proverbs 9:15

To call passengers who go right on their ways:

Proverbs 11:5

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 12:26

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Proverbs 12:28

In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Proverbs 13:6

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 15:9

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Proverbs 15:19

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:31

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 21:2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Proverbs 21:8

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

Proverbs 28:10

Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the
upright shall have good things in possession.

Isaiah 30:21

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 45:13

I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 58:2

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Isaiah 64:5

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Hosea 14:9

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Liberty in Christ (Galations 5)
Now Playing: Are we walking in the Spirit and bearing fruit ?
Topic: Verses
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that "if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing".

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole
law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are
fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

7 Ye did run well; "who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".
(Lev 19:18 Matt 5:43 Matt 19:19 Matt 22:39 Mark 12:31 Rom 13:9 Jam 2:8)

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh".
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, ....

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is [1] love, [2] joy, [3] peace, [4] longsuffering, [5] gentleness, [6] goodness, [7] faith,
23 [8] Meekness, [9] temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

All the way He has led us
Now Playing: Are we obedient to His commandments?
Topic: Prosper
Deuteronomy chapter 8

2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.

3 And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live".
Matt 4:4 Luke 4:4

4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, "as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee."

6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear Him.

7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;

9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

17 And thou say in thine heart, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth".

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God:

Bless the Lord
Now Playing: Do we fill our hearts with thoughts of Him?
Topic: Praise
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
1 Pet 3:10

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
1 Pet 3:10

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
1 Pet 3:11

15
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
1 Pet 3:12

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
1 Pet 3:12

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

Quotes from Edward Dennett
Now Playing: With what do we fill our mind & heart & soul each day ?
Topic: Quotes
Quotes from E. Dennett

"Jesus, Thou art enough
the mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life - to calm the soul,
Thy love its fear dispel.

Oh fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee
That, with Thy beauty occupied,
We elsewhere none may see." (LF #174)

Occupation with Christ

*** The perfection of the Christian life is to lose sight of oneself completely and to make everything of Christ.

*** The sign of a good state of soul is enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Everything that takes your eye off Christ is a snare of the devil.

*** The one object of the Christian life is to learn more of Himself, and Satan cannot find entrance into a heart that is full of Christ.

*** We are not to rejoice so much in the deliverances when they come as in the One who delivers us.

*** The deeper the sense of the state from which we have been delivered, the more absorbingly intense will be our affection for the Deliverer.

*** Intellectual conviction is always powerless. It occupies itself with the truth and never leads to Christ Himself.

*** The Israelites were to gather the manna, every man according to his eating (Exodus 16:16). The appetite governed the amount collected. How strikingly true this is of the believer! We all have as much of Christ as we desire - no more, and no less. If our desires are large - if we open our mouth wide - He will fill it...On the other hand, if we are but feebly conscious of our need, a little only of Christ will be supplied.

*** There are seasons when many believers feel as if they could not get into the presence or obtain the ear of God...Surely it would prove an antidote to Satan's temptations at such periods to remember that if we cannot pray ourselves, Christ never fails to bear us up in His prevailing intercession...It would soon dispel our gloom and coldness of heart, because it would lead us to look away from ourselves and to expect all from Him and from His continual ministry for us in the presence of God.

*** A heart possessed of Christ is fortified against the most seductive allurements of the world.

*** The state of our souls may be discerned by the effect produced upon us by the name of Jesus.

*** Christ Himself is to be our great example of faith - of a life of dependence upon God. If the holiest man that ever lived were to fill our vision, it would only hinder and not help us.

*** Whenever we speak to one another of Christ, He will always be one of the company. (See Malachi 3:16). Do our hearts long for His presence? Then let us speak together of Him more.

*** We feed on Christ by the appropriation of Him in every character that He is presented to us.

*** The whole life of our blessed Lord as man is compressed into the worlds, "He humbled Himself"

*** "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him." Christ is the sole authority in the kingdom.

The Submissive Heart

"Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:9)

"A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer's throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone."

*** Faith is a divine plant that only grows out of the soil of a broken will.

*** You are of no use to God until your will is broken.

*** The calm of a soul which reposes in the will of God is unspeakable.

*** When you have learned that your only home is God's presence and your only happiness is in doing God's will, there is nothing more that I can teach you.

*** The more subject we are to the will of God, the more we shall grow in holiness.

*** You cannot expect an answer from God unless your will is gone (Luke 22:42) You shut out answers to prayer because you have a will about the thing for which you are praying.

*** A sister used to say that the only differences she knew in places was where she realized most of the presence of God; so will it be with ourselves when we have no will of our own and when we have no home but God's presence.

*** If we knew the heart of God, we would never question any of His dealings with us, nor should we ever desire His hand lifted off us till we had learned all He would teach us.

*** Paul says, "By evil report and good report"; he did not stop to explain. A true servant of God has not time for that, and to defend yourself only leads to further charges.

*** We are never to seek to vindicate ourselves when it is a personal matter, but when the Lord's name is dishonored, for His glory we may speak.

*** You never find the Lord defending Himself.

*** Your character may not be vindicated down here. Jesus died under a cloud. He was never cleared in this world of the false accusations that had been made against Him.

*** The will of God was the only law of Christ's life. He was never governed by human considerations or affections. Are we set upon this - that the will of God should be our only law?

*** A soul who is in the secret of the divine mind must be content to be unappreciated and to walk alone.

*** If we are not in the path of God's will, we are not in the path of power.

*** Our true wisdom is in subjection to the will of our Lord. To human eyes no plan of taking Jericho could have been more foolish that that which Joshua adopted, but it was God's plan and hence its complete success.

"One thing have I desired...To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple" (Psalm 27:4)

Thy Way O Lord
Now Playing: What one thing do we desire?
Topic: Verses
(v.1) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(v.2) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

(v.3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

(v.4) One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.

(v.5) For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.

(v.6) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

(v.7) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

(v.8) When thou saidst, 'Seek ye my face'; my heart said unto thee, 'Thy face, LORD, will I seek'.

(v.9) Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

(v.10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

(v.11) Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

(v.12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

(v.13) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

(v.14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Quotes from H.E. Hayhoe
Now Playing: Are we allowing Him to work in our lives?
Topic: Quotes
*** God loves you, not because of what you are, but because of what He is, and the will and heart of God is the source of every blessing the heart can know.

*** There will never be a look, cross His face, that will remind us how much we cost Him.

*** Though Christ can be grieved at a thousand things in us that no eye but His can see, yet none is so easily pleased by our little endeavors of love as He.

*** The Spirit of God would ever search our hearts that the motive spring of all our service should be love.

*** Every joy the Lord had came from above. It was not the weather that made the Lord Jesus a happy joyful servant; it was communion with the Father

*** The Lord Jesus passed through every form and kind of suffering that it was possible for a righteous man to pass through, apart from sin.

*** Many of the sufferings of Christ were not to put our sins away, but that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, and to tell out the depth of the divine bosom that we might know in richer measure how much He loves us.

*** Never try to love the Lord more than you do - just sit down and think of how much He loves you. It will increase your love for Him.

*** The Father has no favorites in His family, all His children are equally blest in Christ

*** Suffering can be pleasure if it is for someone you love. If you are following or serving the Lord, suffering can be a special joy.

*** The more we have of Christ in our hearts, the less room there is for self. Self-denial is discipline for life - the work of every hour.

*** Every person you meet is either living for self or for the Lord Jesus Christ. I am delivered from self by occupation with Christ.

*** Joy will ever rise in proportion to prayer and thanksgiving. To have power in prayer there must be purity in one's life.

*** To have power in prayer there must be purity in one's life

*** The greatest victory you will ever gain in your Christian life will be gained on your knees.

*** We have been restored to apostolic position [of the truth] but not to apostolic power.

*** God takes into account all the extenuating circumstances of our lives.

*** There is no fault in the human character but that the grace of God can help us to overcome. God is never frustrated or thwarted in His purposes.

*** If God doesn't give guidance as to the path of faith no one else can, and if God does no one else need.

*** The Lord Jesus in becoming a man took on Him a body capable of death but not subject to it.

*** Don't go to bed at night with an unkind and unjudged thought toward anyone in the world.

*** Much self-judgment makes a man slow to judge others; and the very gentleness of such an one gives a keen edge to his rebukes.

*** How long should we bear and forbear in the path of devotedness and faithfulness to Christ? Until we get home to glory.

*** Do you want a happy Christian life? Knowledge won't give it to you. What will give it to you? The enjoyment of Christ in your life.

*** True religion is the manifestation of the nature of God in His children.

*** If I have arthritis, it is an infirmity of the flesh; if my arthritis makes me cranky or impatient that is sin.

*** It is alright to groan but not to grumble.

*** Thirst, hunger and weariness are natural to the flesh, not infirmities of the flesh.

*** The Lord Jesus was perfect God and perfect man as He walked here on earth.

*** Christianity is the only religion in the world that gives man a pure object for his hearts affection. All other religious founders lay in the grave.

*** The secret of a happy Christian life is learning to commune with the Lord as you would with a near and a dear friend.

*** The sin that we commit does not produce our state of soul but manifests it. Why do I sin, because I want to.

*** In the things of God you have to taste and walk in them to know the blessedness of them. There is no enjoyment of the truth apart from walking in it.

*** It is not what you know that controls your life, but it is the enjoyment of Christ in the heart that truly separates us from the world and brings a peace, contentment and happiness of which the world knows nothing.

*** Practice the habit of meditation when you read. You will find the precious ore is there in its richness, but you will have to do a little meditation to discover it.

*** It is not what you eat that nourishes your body. It is what you digest, and it is the same with spiritual things.

*** Every time you eat, God is teaching you that life springs out of death because everything you eat dies except salt.

*** There is not a ray of light that can pierce the inky darkness that lies beyond the grave outside of the Word of God, the Bible.

*** Every time you say, "I think," you think wrongly - on every moral and spiritual subject - unless your thoughts are formed by the Word of God.

*** Anything that is not the truth [of the Word of God], is nonsense, and illogical.

*** A text without a context is a pretext. Words get their meaning from the context in which they are found.

*** Avoid an ultra one-sided way of stating the truth

*** Never take your thoughts to the Word of God - take your thoughts from the Word of God

*** Conscience speaks from within - never can it tell of God's character - revelation gives this.

*** Faith doesn't reason, and reason isn't faith, though faith is never unreasonable.

*** The more brilliant a man's mind in divine things, the deeper the fog if he trusts it.

*** The soul never imbibes truth in Living power but as it so requires.

*** It is the hardest thing to get even Christians to see that the church's blessings are heavenly [and] not earthly.

*** Every school book, every magazine, every newspaper that you read will make the horizon of all your thoughts the world in which you live. The Word of God is the only book that tells you to lay up treasures in heaven.

*** Truth that requires faith to walk by, is resisted by the natural heart.

*** Not one right thought of God ever entered the heart of man through his intellect, but through the conscience.

*** The conscience is the guide to true knowledge. It never turns infidel.

*** He puts sorrow and joy together on our road home; tribulation and joy together; deep poverty and joy together.

*** The thickest cloud brings the heaviest showers of blessing.

*** Little by little with the skill of a master's hand and the gentleness of a Father's heart He woos with His love and weans us through circumstances from earth to heaven.

*** The divine nature is shown by having God as its object.

*** His presence gives moral courage for Christian obedience.

*** We get away with nothing! Beware of the government of God. There is a government of God. Every act in your life and mine has both present and eternal consequences.

*** There is something in everyone of us, speaker included, that only God can correct.

*** The Bible never brings comfort to a Christian who is walking carelessly. Correction despised brings sharper correction.

*** God will never, never send trial into our life without a needs be (1 Peter 1:6) on our part, and a purpose of love on His part.

*** He may test your faith but He will never disappoint your faith.

*** If you did everything right, nothing would be right, except the motive was right; it is the motive that gives value to the act.

*** The motive that governs the heart is the true estimate of man's moral condition before God.

*** Happiness is a state of soul, not a question of circumstances. Circumstances do not produce your state of soul, they only manifest it.

*** It is not by change of circumstances that we can be made happy, but by submission to the will of God.

*** Never fear persecution; it will make your face shine like an angel's

*** Take your circumstances from the Lord, and your difficulties to the Lord.

*** Every blessing of God is an apex, a mountain peak, beyond which even God cannot go. If He has not won your heart and mine, what more could He do to win it.

*** Every unconverted man that you meet is governed by two things; his own lusts, and public opinion.

*** Never count your converts - you will never count enough.

*** We can have as much of Christ as we want, and our lives show how much we want of Him.

*** God has given the work of Christ for our consciences, the Person of Christ for our meditation; and the love of Christ to warm our hearts.

*** This world is not an adequate platform for the manifestation of the ways of God in government [but Israel was].

*** Every exhortation of scripture is founded upon what we possess, it is not a matter of attainment, and God uses exhortation to show us what we possess.

*** We break bread, if intelligently, not merely as forgiven sinners, but as members of the body of Christ.

*** God intends that we should breathe by faith, the atmosphere of heaven before we get there.

*** Death is the principle of Christianity; resurrection is its power.

*** Christian obedience is not law-keeping, but delight in love, giving subjection to the will of another, whether expressed or not.

*** The blood of Christ puts my sins away - the death of Christ puts me away - the cross of Christ separates me from the world.

*** You never met a man who walked with God, who at the end of his life said, "I wish I hadn't done it?" and you never will.

*** The sovereignty of God does not lessen man's responsibility. Scripture treats man as a sinner, to be restored to God or judged. Rationalists, as a race to be educated.

*** The unconverted mind of man is the plaything of the devil.

*** I never knew a man to get converted by getting a raise in pay. It's a man's need that brings him to Christ.

*** The first great step, when a man desires to be saved, is unqualified self-condemnation.

*** Conversion is the turning of the heart and will to God through grace. The fear of God is the setting aside of will.

*** God is sufficient unto Himself in every thing but love. He must have objects to love.

*** Man measures sin by man's treatment of man. God measures sin by man's treatment of Christ.

*** In God's presence sin is not measured by transgression, but by what God is.

*** All our unhappiness and failure, whether as saint of sinner, springs from unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God for us.

*** Anything that robs your soul of joy in the Lord, robs you of the richest treasure you know in life's pathway.

*** All our intelligence and all our happiness depends upon how we treat the Divine guest that dwells within.

*** You and I should love saints no matter how unlovely they appear outwardly. They are dear to Him; if we walk with God we love them without effort.

*** Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, our minds make up our moral history in this world. We are what we love and think about as an object, and this forms the whole pattern of our life down here.

*** At His coming we are going to be like Christ - morally and physically.

*** Gift is not sanctified [natural] ability. Gift is not godliness.

*** Communion with Christ can only be kept up by constant watchfulness. The consciousness that God is with you gives power. There is no substitute for communion.

*** The minute I see a brother or a sister trying to get folks on their side on any question, I know that they are not walking in the wisdom of God.

*** Walk with God and the Spirit of God will always testify as to the rightness of your ways.

*** If the world can understand your life, you are not walking with God. The nearer we walk with God, the more we become an oddity to the world.

*** We should be humble and happy. Humble because we are so little like Him and happy because He loves us so.

*** If there is one thing more than another that we need to guard against, it is to watch lest the heart's affections grow cold.

*** The moment my affections grow cold, my feet are going to wander and the world is going to get into my heart.

*** The one longing desire of my heart in ministry is to so plant Christ in the affections of Christians that they will desire to live in Him.

*** It is unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God that is in the root of all coldness, carelessness and lack of earnestness in the things of God.

*** One of the evil fruits of long continued spiritual negligence, is the soul's ignorance of its own state.

*** From the time you open your eyes in the morning till you close them at night, everything you see and hear tends to put the world into your heart.

*** If you set your heart upon an automobile it may burn up or you may have an accident and it will be destroyed; but if you set your heart on Christ you will never lose your object

*** The deception and power of present things is of the Devil, the perception of them is of God.

*** The higher we get in this world - the closer we get to the god and prince of it. God does not train His servants in the college of brick and stone - He trains them in the school of adversity.

*** Our special mark of a "sound mind" is readiness to take counsel of God.

*** All true knowledge, all moral knowledge, begins by putting God in His place; nothing is right and true without that.

*** The world says, "You must know something of evil." God says, "Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." You get just as black fighting a chimney sweep as you do hugging him.

*** The wisdom of God is not an extension of man's wisdom, it is not an improvement of man's wisdom, but in every case, it is the opposite of man's wisdom.

*** All true knowledge, all moral knowledge, begins by putting God in His place: nothing is right or true without that.


*** Are you a mother? Do not be satisfied to tell your children the way of salvation. Tell them about the beauties of Christ; give the wisdom of the Word and seek to guide their footprints through this world into that faith and faithfulness that should characterize the family of God (2 Tim. 1:5)

*** There is no such thing as "Good Luck" or being fortunate. Nothing happens by chance to the Christian. Why not say "through mercy" or "through the Lord's goodness." Why not His ordering?

*** When we get home to glory and have a backward look over our history, we will find He was doing the very best He could for us each day of our lives according to our state of soul.

*** The grandest truth that I have discovered in all the word of God is this - that God became a man in Christ, walked throughout this world as a man, died on the cross as a man, then arose from among the dead, to remain a man forever - why - that He might enjoy our companionship for all eternity. (1 Cor. 15:28)

*** The Word of God came not by the will of man but rather is addressed to all with authority from God. It is the only book in the world whose prophecies are unfailingly true, because man cannot tell the future. It is also the only book that the natural man cannot understand. It is not written so as to work on the emotions and does not record the physical characteristics of Christ or the Apostles but rather gives us their moral features. There is nothing in Scripture contrary to reason - yet it does contain what is beyond reason, and must necessarily do so, because it comes from God. It brings together the answer to the truth of Light and Love and nothing is needed outside the Word to receive life, or to walk in godliness.

*** What are we in this world for, to get rich - no - we are here to learn the manifold grace and wisdom of God.

*** Read the Word of God, the Bible, until your mind is so saturated with it that you think and act in the light of Scripture.

*** Psalm 94:12-13 is the key to the whole book of the Psalms. Isaiah 5:4 is the key to the whole of the Old Testament. John 11:52 is the key to the book of Acts. Ephesians 1:10 is the key to the whole Bible.

*** The only failure of an Old Testament saint recorded in the New Testament is that of Elijah making intercession to God against Israel (Romans 11:2-3).

*** The book of Proverbs gives us heavenly wisdom for an earthly pathway.

*** "The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children" (2 Cor. 12:14), and that does not just mean money!

*** What are we in the world for, to get rich - no - we are here to learn the manifold grace and wisdom of God.

*** No ceremonial is worth a straw if the heart does not honour Christ.

*** By religious forms, man is made religious without possessing holiness. Anything that exalts man is not of God.

*** False religion will send more people to hell than anything else.

*** Christianity is not an adjunct of Judaism but an entirely separate and distinct work of God.

*** Not one thing that you know is the result of your reason; it is either testimony or experience. What do you know? - Did reason tell you or faith?

*** Faith and salvation go together. Obedience and happiness go together.

*** Do not look at the people that persecute you, but the reason why you are persecuted.

*** God never takes us out of the difficulties into which our folly has plunged us, but He will be with us in them.

*** The Christian is not a changed man, he is a new creation.

*** Are you going to the Exhibition? If you knew the exhibition that is before my soul you wouldn't ask me.

*** The moral principles of God do not change with dispensations.

*** If we delight in God's glory, we shall delight to honour those whom God honours.

*** Love your brethren, serve them faithfully, overlook all the faults you can but make none of them the object of your Christian life - let it be Christ.

*** Never disturb the peace of the assembly unless the glory of God demands it.

*** If I were asked what characterizes this present dispensation I would say the presence of the Holy Spirit as a divine Person here on earth.

*** The Lord's coming - the moment when Christ takes His bride - is the moment for which all other moments were made for the Christian.

*** It is wonderful to lay our head on our pillow at night and know that we have walked with God through the day. Keep it as a sweet secret!

*** If it gives you pleasure to speak about the failures of your brethren, you are not walking with God.

*** Do not expect righteousness from an unrighteous world.

*** When we give to the Lord [of our resources] He repays so bountifully that we are ashamed to take it.

*** When heaven was opened upon Jesus, it looked down with delight -- we look up and are changed.

*** If you could have chosen a period of time in which to have lived you couldn't have chosen a more blessed time than the present - especially with the Lord's coming so imminent.

Other Sites
Now Playing: Quotes to consider
Topic: Administrative
During the current limited postings, please browse other resources which can be found at https://dondegr8.tripod.com/plainpath & https://dondegr8.tripod.com/wordoftruth
Note that links and content may be duplicated at times, although each "site" has a slightly different focus and target audience. Most content is simply what has been a help in my own walk.

Routine Change
Now Playing: Taking a breather for a while
Topic: Administrative
This past Friday, I accepted a new job in the Toronto area, starting tomorrow. My new routine will adjust the frequency of my postings until my new schedule has been in effect for a time. Please read previous postings (from December & January) and enjoy some of the profitable content on the various links.