"Sanctification grows out of faith in Jesus Christ. Remember holiness is a flower, not a root; it is not sanctification that saves, but salvation that sanctifies." - Charles Spurgeon   

HOLINESS CONSISTS OF THREE THINGS 

 "Holiness consists of three things - separation from sin, dedication to God, transformation into Christ's image. It is in vain that we talk about the last, unless we know something experimentally about the first."  

- James H.  Aughey (1828-1911) Imprisoned American Minister

HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY   

"Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."  

-  1 Peter 1:15-16

THE FOUNDATION OF TRUE HOLINESS  

"The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted, true holiness and worship will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted."  

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

IN ORDER TO LIVE A LIFE OF HOLINESS  

"In order to live a life of holiness, we must first receive new life from God - we must be born from above."  

- J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) American Bible Teacher

WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD  

"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."  

- Hebrews 12:14 

PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES IN HOLINESS  

I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 

-  1 Timothy 2:1-2

THE HOLINESS OF MY GREAT NAME  

"I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes."  

— Ezekiel 36:23

LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS  

"And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  

— Ephesians 4:24

HOLINESS IS THE HABIT  

"Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word."  

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop 

PERFECTING HOLINESS OUT OF REVERENCE FOR GOD  

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."  

— 2 Corinthians 7:1 

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"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."  - 2 Peter 1:5-7

IF YOU PLAN TO BUILD A TALL HOUSE OF VIRTUES  

"If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility."  

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher 

PRAYER IS A VIRTUE  

"Prayer is a virtue that prevaileth against all temptations."  

- Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Burgundian Abbot

SINNERS SAVED BY VIRTUE OF IT  

"Gospellers have much to say about what Christ's death accomplished for those who believe in Him, but very little is said about what that Death accomplished Godwards. The fact is that the death of Christ glorified God if never a single sinner had been saved by virtue of it." 

 - A. W. Pink (1886-1952) English Bible Teacher 

THE STRENGTH OF A MAN'S VIRTUE  

"The strength of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts."  

-  Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) - Catholic Theologian, Religious Philosopher

THE PERSON THAT PRACTICES VIRTUES  

"Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues."  

- C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) American Theologian, Minister

ENOURAGE THEM IN THE EXERCISE OF CHRISTIAN VALUES  

"God's purpose in promising to reward with heavenly and eternal honors the faithful service of His saints is to win them from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures, to sustain them in the fires of persecution, and to encourage them in the exercise of Christian virtues."  

- C. I. Scofield

COURAGE IS NOT SIMPLY ONE OF THE VIRTUES 

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."      

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar

HUNDRED VIRTUES WHICH THE IDLE WILL NEVER KNOW  

"Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle will never know."  

- Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) Church Priest of the Church of England, Historian

VIRTUE IS A CERTAIN ROAD TO HAPPINESS  

"There is a set of religious, or rather moral, writings which teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true." 

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop

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THE FOOLISH FARMER

The Rev. John Cooke once, when traveling, fell in with a rich farmer who was very unwilling to listen to any serious remarks which he was disposed to make, and at length said, with a sneer, " I don't like religion; and I told you so."

"You are not a singular farmer, sir," replied Mr. Cooke. " I have read of one whom you greatly resemble. The farmer to whom I allude, finding his ground very productive, and his barns too small, resolved on building larger barns, and filling them; and said to his soul, 'Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry.'

But God said unto him, 'Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?-- Luke xii 19,20. 

Now, sir, I think you must see yourself in this picture. Here is a farmer, very rich, living to himself in health, ease, and pleasure, 'without God in the world.' No doubt his neighbors envied and flattered them as virtues, he never heard the truth.  This accounts for our Lord's words. 'How hardly shall they have riches enter into the kingdom of God!' But although he thought himself wise, and others wished to be like him, God addresses him differently; 'Thou fool!"

"Why, sir, do you suppose the only wise God called him a fool?" He was silent.

"But, candidly, do you think he was a fool?"

"I shall not say, sir."

"Well, sir, if you will allow me to hazard an opinion, he appears a fool--

"1. Because he preferred his body to his soul.

"2. Because he preferred the world to God. 'Eat, drink, and be merry,' was the extent of his aim.

"3. Because he preferred time to eternity: 'Thou hast goods laid up for many years.'

"4. Because he lived as if he should never die; and, wilst presuming on many years, exposed his soul to all the horrors of sudden death, without repentance, without forgiveness, without holiness, and without hope."

REMARKABLE WORDS POINTING TO A PHOTOGRAPH

An old woman, while showing the house and pictures at Towcester, expressed herself in these remarkable words pointing to a photograph: -- "That is Sir Robert Farmer; he lived in the country, took care of his estate, built this house, and paid for it; managed well, saved money, and died rich. -- That is his son. He was made lord, took a place at court, spent his estate, and died a beggar!"  

A very concise moral lesson; "He layeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them." (Psalm 39:6)

DEATH AND THE WORLD

When the famous English actor David Garrick showed Dr. Samuel Johnson his fine house. gardens, statutes, pictures, etc., at Hampton Court, what Ideas did they awaken in the mind of that great man, Instead of a flattering compliment, which was expected, "Ah David, David," said the doctor, "These are the things which make a death-bed terrible!"

- The Treasury of Anecdotes Moral and Religious, William P. Nimmo C.1840

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parable_of_the_Rich_Fool_(Rembrandt)

Marriage is a sacred and beautiful thing arranged by God. You can find examples of godly marriages throughout the Bible. Marriage shows the relationship between Christ and His church, and it is put on display in front of the whole world.

THERE IS NO MORE LOVELY  

"There is no more lovely, friendly or charming relationship, communion or company, than a good marriage."  

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

LET MARRIAGE BE HELD IN HONOR 

"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous."  

- Hebrews 13:4

GOD USES MARRIAGE FOR REPRODUCTION 

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”  

- Genesis 1:28

SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER  

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”  

- Ephesians 5:21-24 

I HAVE KNOWN MANY HAPPY MARRIAGES 

“I have known many happy marriages, but never a compatible one. The whole aim of marriage is to fight through and survive the instant when incompatibility becomes unquestionable.”  

– G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) English Writer, Theologian

BUT I WANT YOU TO REALIZE 

“But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”  

- 1 Corinthians 11:3

I HATE DIVORCE SAYS THE LORD  

“For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence, Says the LORD of hosts. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

- Malachi 2:16  

YOU HAVE MADE MY HEART BEAT FASTER  

"You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride; You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes, With a single strand of your necklace.” 

 - Song of Solomon 4:9

I WILL MAKE A HELPER SUITABLE FOR HIM  

“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  

- Genesis 2:18 

LIKE A BRIDE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED FOR HER HUSBAND  

“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”  

- Revelation 21:2  

Photo Source: callingcouplestochrist.org/2019/01/20/lessons-from-the-wedding-feast-at-cana/

THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD AND MY SALVATION  

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  - Psalm 27:1  

THE LORD IS MY STONGHOLD

He said, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."   

- 2 Samuel 22:2-4  

MY STRONGHOLD AND MY DELIVERER  

"My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me."  

- Psalm 144:2

TO DESTROY STRONGHOLDS   

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."  

- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

THE STRONGHOLD OF TEMPTATION

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."  

- Ephesians 6:12

STRONGHOLDS AGAINST THE FORCES OF DARKNESS  

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." 

- 1 Corinthians 6:18

POWER THAT PULLS DOWN STRONGHOLDS  

"But have we Holy Spirit power - power that restricts the devil's power, pulls down strongholds and obtains promises? Daring delinquents will be damned if they are not delivered from the devil's dominion. What has hell to fear other than a God-anointed, prayer-powered church?"  

- Leonard Ravenhill

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"That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." - Acts 3:20

WHEN I AM IN THE NEED OF REFRESHMENT

"Do you often feel like parched ground, unable to produce anything worthwhile? I do. When I am in need of refreshment, it isn't easy to think of the needs of others. But I have found that if, instead of praying for my own comfort and satisfaction, I ask the Lord to enable me to give to others, an amazing thing often happens - I find my own needs wonderfully met. Refreshment comes in ways I would never have thought of, both for others, and then, incidentally, for myself."

- Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Christian Missionary and Writer

PRAY FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND REFRESHING

"God will not let me get the blessing without asking. Today I am setting my face to fast and pray for enlightenment and refreshing. Until I can get up to the measure of at least two hours in pure prayer every day, I shall not be contented. Meditation and reading besides."

- Andrew Bonar (1810-1892) Church of Scotland Minister

HE REFRESHES THE SOULS OF HIS MASTERS

"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters."

- Proverbs 25:13

PRIVATE DEVOTIONS ARE LIKE THE REFRESHING OF A GARDEN

"The private devotions and secret offices of religion are like the refreshing of a garden with the distilling and petty drops of a waterpot; but addressed from the temple, they are like ram from heaven."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

THE FRESHNESS OF A HEART IN CHRIST

"The freshness of heart in Christ was always the same. You and I get so weary in our experience of the wilderness, but Christ's heart is never wearied, it is as freshly set on the bride as when God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world."

- G. V. Wigram (1805-1879) English Biblical Scholar

THEY REFRESHED MY SPIRIT AS WELL AS YOUR YOURS   

"For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people."

- 1 Corinthians 16:18

I COME FORTH WITH SPIRIT REFRESHED

"In the silences I make in the midst of the turmoil of life I have appointments with God. From these silences I come forth with spirit refreshed, and with a renewed sense of power. I hear a voice in the silences and become increasingly aware that it is the voice of God."

- David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians 

ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE RESTED AND WAS REFRESHED 

"It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

- Exodus 31:17

HIS SPIRIT HAS BEEN REFRESHED BY YOU ALL 

"Therefore, we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all."

- 2 Corinthians 7:13

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"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." - Romanns 8:27

HE WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS  

"For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off." 

- Psalm 37:28

MAKING SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS    

"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."  

- Ephesians 6:18

SAINTS FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED  

"The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised." 

 - Matthew 27:52

LOVE THE LORD, ALL YOU SAINTS  

"Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride." 

- Psalm 31:23  2   

THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH  

"But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever." 

- Daniel 7:18

LOVE SHOWN FOR HIS SAINTS  

"For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do."  

- Hebrews 6:10

AS THE SAINTS OF GOD MEET TOGETHER  

"As the saints of God meet together Jesus still manifests Himself. And seeing Him, there comes to us a new joy and peace, a new sense of the purpose and worthfulness of life. Seeing Him there comes to us a new power for battle and for conquest."  

- Clovis G. Chappell (1882-1972) Tennessee Methodist Clergyman

PRECIOUS IS THE DEATH OF THE SAINTS   

 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."  

- Psalm 116:15

THE GREATEST SAINT IN THE WORLD 

"The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God."  

- William Law (1686-1761) Church of England Cleric

WHEN THE DEVIL SEES A MAN OR WOMAN PRAYING

"When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end."

- R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) American Evangelist. Educator, Writer

THE PRAYERS OF GOD'S SAINTS  

"The prayers of God's saints strengthen the unborn generation against the desolating waves of sin and evil."  

- Alan Redpath (1907–1989), American Evangelist, Pastor, Author

EVERY SAINT IS GOD'S TEMPLE  

"Every saint is God's temple, and he who carries His temple about him, may go to prayer when he pleaseth."  

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher

THE MANUFACTURE OF A SAINT 

"The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime."  

- Alan Redpath (1907–1989), American Evangelist, Pastor, Author

CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS  

 "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."  

- Romans 12:13

 NO SAINT WHO CAN OUT-BELIEVE GOD  

"There is no saint here who can out-believe God. God never out-promised Himself yet."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

THERE THE SAINT LIGHTS THE FLAME  

"The secret heart is devotion's temple; there the saint lights the flame of purest sacrifice, which burns unseen but not unaccepted." 

 - Hannah More (1745-1833) English Religious Writer

SAINTS ARE PLANTED  

"Saints are planted in the house of God; they have a kind of rooting there: but though the tabernacle be a good rooting place, yet we cannot root firmly there, unless we are rooted in Jesus Christ."  

- Abraham Wright (1611–1690) English Theological Writer 

PRESERVES THE LIFE OF SAINTS   

"O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked."  

 - Psalm 97:10 

ENDURANCE OF THE SAINTS

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."
 

  - Revelation 14:12
 

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“I will never leave you or forsake you.” – Heb. 13:5

There is an old story about an unfortunate man who was the sole survivor of a terrible shipwreck and was washed ashore on a tiny uninhabited island. Marooned and alone, the man cried out to God to rescue him from his terrible fate. Unfamiliar with survival tactics, the man struggled to endure. Eventually, he was able to construct a crude hut that provided him with shelter from the elements. He managed to make a few basic tools and eating utensils, and stored his few possessions that he was able to salvage in the storm.

Every day the man faithfully scanned the horizon for the answer to his prayer, that a ship that would come and take him away, or a plane flying overhead that would swoop down and rescue him. He was ready to flag them down, to make sure he was not passed by. Day after day he waited… nothing appeared. As days turned into months, he grew tired and hopeless.

Then one day while he was out scavenging for food on the other side of the island, the man spotted smoke billowing high in the air, coming from the direction of his small camp. Alarmed, he dropped his catch and ran desperately back to his little hut, only to find that it had burned to the ground. There was nothing left. What little the man had collected was now all gone.

In despair, the man fell to the ground and cried out to the Lord, “How could you have allowed this? All that I possess, you have allowed to be taken away from me. I trusted you to help me…I trusted you.” Broken and despaired the sobbed himself to sleep.

 The next morning, he was awakened suddenly to the sound of a ship’s horn, signaling their arrival on the island. The sailors bounded onto the shore, announcing their intent to rescue him. The marooned man aghast asked, “How did you find me?”

The sailors answered in return, “Why, we spotted your smoke signal, coming over the horizon.”

Ever been shipwrecked? Ever fall down on the ground in despair? Ever underestimate the power of the living God? I have.

God has promised us that he will never leave us, never forsake us (Heb 13:5). Yet, we doubt. We doubt because we are humans. We doubt because we can’t always “see” God working on our behalf. We doubt because we have little faith. This is why God had to come to Earth; so we could see the manifestation of an Eternal God in the form of human flesh (Jesus). He lived like us and experienced our sufferings, fears, and pains.

We all experience times when we feel like God has abandoned us on a deserted island. Sometimes it is because of circumstances beyond our control; sometimes it is because we put ourselves there and get smacked for it. Regardless of the cause of the shipwreck in your life today, God has planned to turn our sufferings into His message of hope, that others might witness His saving love in our lives. God answers prayers. Delay is not denial. Sometimes we have to spend time peering into the horizon for His ship to come and save us, or we watch what we feel is our only stability burn down to the ground. But God has promised that He will come and rescue us, and His promises are good. Take heart today, Christian, be strong and courageous…wait and watch yet one more day, for He is coming in His perfect time.

- Moral and Religious Anecdotes, Rev. George Cheever, D.D. 1870

THE WILL OF GOD

"The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger."

- Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Christian Missionary and Writer

WAIT ON GOD AND HE WILL WORK

"Wait on God and He will work, but don't wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see an inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told."

- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) Scottish Baptists Evangelist

GOD'S TIMING TO DELIVER US

"What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them. We must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

BE NOT FORGETFUL OF THIS ONE THING

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

- 2 Peter 3:8-9  

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Missionary

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