Who's got your tongue ?
Now Playing: Do we guard what comes from our lips ?
Topic: Meditations
(from Selections by R.K.G.)

Last week, during the "Come Apart" at Camp Sacajawea, I had occasion to go to Vineland to a laundromat. There was a tract rack on the wall, maintained by the Vineland Mennonite Church. I picked up and read the following, which brought back memories of visits in our home of my maternal grandfather, Christopher Knapp, as he travelled in the service of the Lord. I can still hear his voice from upstairs admonishing us boys about idle words for which we must give account.

I thought of the following prayer of the Psalmist:
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Psalm 19)

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Look before you leap. Think before you speak.

Good advice? Sure! Who of us hasn't been embarrassed when he said something without thinking? We didn't mean to say it. It just somehow slipped out too fast.

Our computer age is an era of fast moving, fast living, and fast talking. If you don't believe it, just stand in the marketplace or on the street corner sometime.

You can hear just about any kind of talk---a heated argument, cursing, swearing, the latest obscene joke, or you name it.

Such speech has no place on the lips of the follower of Jesus Christ, you say. You're right! But what about the speech of those of us who wouldn't be heard relating obscenities, swearing, cursing, or directing bitter slander at the next-door neighbor?

Is our speech always clear of all impurities, or do we let the rush of our age control our tongues? Have you taken stock lately of the "products" which come from your own tongue?

Sometimes the rush to "get your piece said" may cause you to slip up and say some things you shouldn't. One of the greatest dangers the Christian faces in using his tongue is the use of exclamations when excited.

You've probably overheard someone oohing and ahing over that shiny new car or that gorgeous new house and saying, "Golly, what a beauty." Or maybe you've overehard , "O Darn, I did it again" after someone hit his finger with a hammer.

Perhaps in the conversation over the back fence, you've heard, "My goodness, wasn't that an awful thunderstorm."

What's wrong with those words? Plenty! They are
"polite" words for things that are not so "polite" to say. Maybe you wouldn't think of using God's or Jesus' name just any old time. Yet Golly, Gol and Gad are used for "God", Gee and Geez for "Jesus".

You would never want to curse someone, asking God to send him to the lake of fire. Yet, you might use darn, durn or durnit. They mean "damn".

What about such seemingly innocent expressions as my goodness and goodness gracious? These are still irreverent uses of God's name. "My goodness" takes the place of "My God," and "goodness gracious" is a substitute for "God's grace."

God has warned man in His Word, the Bible, about the loose use of His name---just kicking it around in everyday conversation or using it to condemn someone.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain" (Exodus 20.7)

God commands us not to use His name unless we use it with respect and honor towards Him. Such expression as "I'll swear", "By God", and "By Jove" (a Roman God) are out of the question for the Christian in light of this commandment.

Much like this Old Testament commandment is the New Testament command: "Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool; neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the Great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5.34-37).

These verses rule out using God's name to try to make someone believe that you're telling the truth.

For heaven's sake, my heavens, my stars---swearing by heaven? My lands---swearing by the earth? Pleasing to God? Hardly.

By now, you may be asking, "What can I say if I'm surprised or excited? Many of the usual expressions are not fitting for a Christian."

Your first concern in all that you say must be to bring glory to God. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3.17).

Much of the time which people waste exclaiming over or complaining about the weather, the latest tragedy, or the beauty of some object, could be used more wisely praising God for all things..

Instead of exclaiming over and blaming God for the destructive storm, praise God for sparing your life, realizing that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8.29).

It would be a good idea to "take stock" of the situations that cause you to use exclamations. Find out why you're exclaiming. Is it to impress someone? To fake interest when you couldn't care less? Be sure your exclamations are genuine---that you express the joy or concern that you really mean.

The things you say reveal your life desires and true motives.

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things" (Matthew 12.34b-35).

Someday all men will have to answer to God for the things they have spoken from the "abundance of the heart." In that day, excuses will not stand. "Well, I didn't really realize what I was saying" or "I just said it without thinking" will do no good.

"For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12.37).

The things your mouth speaks are really determined by who controls your tongue. The good man's tongue is a God-controlled tongue---the evil man's tongue is a Satan-controlled tongue.

God desires to control your tongue. Without Him, a man's tongue is like a wind-whipped forest fire. "The tongue is a fire; a world of iniquity . . . and it is set on fire of hell" (James 3.6).

"The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3.8). Only Jesus Christ can tame that unruly tongue. How? Only as you yield your life to Him in obedience to His word.---IN CHRIST your speech habits will be changed. How?

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. . . . Mortify [make dead] therefore your members which are upon the earth; . . . put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy [swearing and cursing], filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3.2, 3, 5a, 8).

Christ will take a crucified tongue, one that is surrendered to Him for His use, and will make it "alive" with good conversation that will bring praise to God.

Who's got your tongue?

(Selected by R.K.G.)

Available in tract form from Gospel Light Publications, Harrisonburg VA 22802
Phone (540) 434-0758

Thorn in the Flesh
Now Playing: How do we react to our own
Topic: Suffering
The Thorn

This discipline is suited and adapted to each several soul. This is not, that all speculations as to what was the nature of Paul's thorn in the flesh, end in nothing. God has wisely seen fit to leave it untold. Were it made known, we would have perhaps settled that it was not ours, and then have left it there.

To have left it untold, gives us to see that there was a great principle of God's dealings, seen in this man's case, but applicable to all. Each would have his suited" thorn? The very thing that would counteract his natural tendency; and SO act as to strip him of every pretension to power, and break any fancied strength of man.

We see this on every hand, we see it better in he reason why, I doubt our own soul's history. For it is not always that another is permitted to know the secret thorn which rankles in the breast, such as that we would give the world to remove, ere we know the "end of the Lord." He presses home the "stake " which pins us to the earth, as it were, in very powerlessness.

You see this at times, for instance, in incongruous marriages. The soul is worn away, especially in a sensitive, spiritual mind; and there is no earthly power which can change the sorrow, and heavenly deliverance is withheld. Again, there is a child whose conduct breaks the heart of a parent: every measure fails to deal with him, and the ` I thorn " rankles deeply in the wounded heart. It may be that some disgrace is permitted, as to which the soul feels that death were easier to bear. It may be that slander has stung the soul with deeper pain.

There may be, too, some human weakness, which renders the afflicted one an object of pain to those who love him, or of ridicule to others. Such as these, and the many sorrows of the way are used of God as the "thorn" to curb the energy, to break the strength of "man." Circumstances, friends, relations, health, good name, all are touched by Wisdom in this holy discipline of the soul.

These things in the hand of God are like the river banks which on either side guide the stream of waters which flow between them; rendering the waters useful and fructifying, which, if flowing onwards without these guides, would devastate all around, in-stead of bearing a blessing on their bosom. How often have we not thought what good Christians we might have been if circumstances were different; in short, if the banks which carry the river were broken down. Nay, these are the wise dealings of our God to keep us just in the channel and path where we are, to shine and glorify Him.

Like Paul of old, when the " stake " was driven home, we may cry to God, even thrice, as he: Take away this thorn, this terrible hindrance to the work of Christ, this feebleness of the vessel, this sapping of energy, this hindrance to service, this cruel "stake " from which the soul struggles in vain to be free. But no, there it remains, until we find, in the acceptance of its bitterness, the occasion of a strength, which is not of man, but the emptying us of fancied human power.

We learn our powerlessness, we feel that struggling is but in vain. ` Yet here the secret of strength is found: but not of man, not our own. The Lord comes in. He finds the vessel bereft of strength; pre-pared for that power with which He can wield it. He finds that condition which it is His to use. " And he said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest ("tabernacle over") upon me:" The surpassingness of the power is of God, and not from us."
F.G.Patterson

Working for Him
Now Playing: Are we willing to learn His plans, and do what He calls us to ?
Topic: Learn
The question then comes, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" Some, if not all, had been tempted to do this (Ezra 3: 12); for they had compared the meanness of the present building with the glory of that of Solomon. They had been thus discouraged by comparing the present with the past, and, in their discouragement, they had low thoughts of the work on which they were engaged.

They are now shown that, in this state of mind, they were not in fellowship with the mind and heart of God; that the question was not concerning the outward glory of their work, but what were God's thoughts about it. They had been repining and were unbelieving while God's heart was upon His people, and His eyes were waiting to express their joy when they should see the building completed for this is the meaning of the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel.*

It would be well for us if we carefully treasured up this instruction; for we also are slow to learn that the importance of any service depends upon God's estimate of it. If we have once lost fellowship with Him as to our work, our spiritual energy and perseverance are gone, we cease to look to the only source of our strength, and give place, at the same time, to doubts if not despair, because we have commenced to walk by sight instead of by faith.

Let us learn then, with these returned captives, that the meanest service, as to its outward character, is worthy, of all our devotedness and zeal if the mind and heart of God are upon it, if He has put it into our hands, and that nothing is to be despised, no day of small things, when it contains in itself the pledge and guarantee of the fulfilment of the purposes of God.
E. Dennett

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.