The Truth About Our Hearts



Text: Jeremiah 17:1-18
In those two lines you have the explanation of all the misery and heartache and injustice and evil of life. It all stems from that. The heart, the natural life into which we were born, has two things wrong with it. First, it is desperately corrupt. This means it never can function as it originally was designed to do. It can never fulfill all you expect of it. It will never fulfill your ideals, or bring you to the place where you can be what you would like to be. It is corrupt. It is infected with a fatal virus. It cannot be changed. There is nothing you can do about it, ultimately. It is useless and wasted. Therefore there is only one thing it is good for — to be put to death. That is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did with it when he died some centuries later. He took that fatal nature, human nature, and he put it to death.

I know that many people have trouble at this point. This is the verse, among others like it in the Scriptures, which divides humanity right down the center. You either believe this verse, and act in these terms for the rest of your life, understanding this fact, or you deny it and say, It is not true; man is basically good. It is either one side or the other. Your whole system of philosophy and of education and of legislation, and everything else, will be determined by which one of those views you take. This is the Great Divide of humanity, right here.

It is amazing, but I think one of the greatest confirmations of the truth in this verse is the Constitution of the United States of America. Our founding fathers were so aware of this great fact — that man, by nature, is desperately corrupt — that they never trusted a single man, even the best of them, with ultimate power. They set up checks and balances by which any man in office, even the most admired of men, would have his power scrutinized and examined by others. They did not trust anybody, and rightfully so! No system of philosophy, of psychology, of education, will ever serve to eliminate the wrongful, evil failing of the human heart. It cannot be done. We have to face life on those terms.

As if that were not bad enough, there is also another quality about the heart: it is deceitful about all things. It never looks quite as bad as it really is. It has an amazing power to disguise itself and look good and hopeful and fair — admirable, even. That is what is so deceitful about it. This explains why, all through the centuries, men continually keep trying to make their hearts seem better. We want to think as if we are just a few steps from success. This is why most of the approaches of humanity are equivalent to taking a well with poisoned water, and improving it by painting the pump!

The heart is clever, crafty; it can appear one way when it is quite another. We know that we have a frightening ability to hide a hateful heart under flattering words, or that we can speak softly and lovingly to someone whom we utterly despise. We do it all the time. We can use a sweet tone, and act and sound as if we are perfectly at ease, when inwardly we are seething with revolt and rebellion. That is the heart. It has that ability. It can appear fair. It can make the most impressive vows to do better. It can promise reform, and suffer hardship.

That is the heart, and the only book in the world which tells you this is the Bible — and those which are based upon it. You will never find that information in any other source. All studies of humanity will never lead you to this revelation. This is God himself, opening up a truth which divides the world, and which men must know if they are going to face life the way it really is.

Copyright 2014 | Ray Stedman Ministry | www.raystedman.org

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Wisdom Is Precious



TEXT: JOB 28:12-28 
Key verse: “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).


One day, Henry Ford, an automaker, had a challenge with power supply in his factory and asked Charlie Steinmetz, an electrical genius, to build him some generators. Steinmetz did. But one day, the generators grounded to a halt. The repairmen tried their best to fix the problem, but they could not. Ford, who got disturbed, called Steinmetz, the original builder of the generators. Steinmetz tinkered with the machines for a few hours and they roared into life. But Ford got a bill of $10,000. Surprised, he inquired why the bill was so big. Steinmetz replied: “For tinkering with the generators, $10 and for knowing where to tinker, $9,990.” The major repairs on the generators did not cost much, but the wisdom to know exactly what was wrong and how to effect the repairs was the principal cost.

This was what Job emphasized in today’s text. To him, wisdom is precious, perfect and valuable. In other words, wisdom is much better than anything else. He averred that true wisdom “cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies.”

Job’s explanation and exaltation of true wisdom also suggested that it could not be acquired through educational pursuits or research.  This has led us to the great revelation that true wisdom is to have the fear of the Lord and to depart from evil.

True wisdom, which is the secret of successful living here on earth and having eternal life, is living righteously and godly, having reverential fear for God that leads to true and pure worship, obeying His word and abhorring all manner of evil. It, therefore, requires that we seek the Lord through repentance, restitution and fervent prayer for the impartation of God’s wisdom.

THOUGHT FOR YOU: Whatever makes men good Christians, imbibe it.
See more by clicking: <<DAILY MANNA>>

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You Are Not An Accident!




I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Isaiah 44:2a (CEV)
God doesn't play dice. Albert Einstein

YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.

Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it.

Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. He thought of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing at this very moment. You are alive because God wanted to create you! The Bible says, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me."

God prescribed every single detail of your body. He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way he wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. The Bible says, "You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something."

Because God made you for a reason, he also decided when you would be born and how long you would live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!"

God also planned where you'd be born and where you'd live for his purpose. Your race and nationality are no accident. God left no detail to chance. He planned it all for his purpose. The Bible says, "From one man he made every nation... and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” Nothing in your life is arbitrary. It's all for a purpose.

Most amazing, God decided how you would be born. Regardless of the circumstances of your birth or who your parents are, God had a plan in creating you. It doesn't matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. God knew that those two individuals possessed exactly the right genetic makeup to create the custom "you" he had in mind. They had the DNA God wanted to make you.


As The End of Age Draws Near




As the end of age draws near
With all the silver and gold on you,
When the Day of Judgment shall appear
None of them shall see you through.

All of the vanity you see today,
All of the wealth you think you own,
Soon, all will fade away
When all of you become tombstone.

As the end of age draws near
Have you a day thought of eternity?
You bow to greed and worship beer
And allow money cloud your sanity.

You've become a drunk,
Your family is fed up,
Your son is now punk
You still won't give up.

You flirt with your boss,
And lie to your man,
At home you would doss
And nag as your plan.

You hate with passion,
And slander with ease,
You despise caution
And only yourself please.

Have you a day thought of eternity
As the end of age draws near?
Useless would be power and impunity
When the Lord shall appear?

You may now have it all
And still not end well;
But to ignore Christ's call,
Is eternity in hell.

As the end of age draws near,
Have you thought of your end?
When the Lord shall appear,
What would be your fate my friend?

=== Written by: Jacobs Adewale ===

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The Way To Overcome: Believe!



When there is a fidelity between you and God and the love of God is so real that you feel you could do anything for Jesus, all the promises are yea and amen to those who believe. Your life is centred there. Always overcoming what is in the world.
Who keepeth the commandments? The born of God. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). They that believe, love. When did He love us? When we were in the mire. What did He say? Thy sins are forgiven thee. Why did He say it? Because He loved us. What for? That He might bring many sons into glory. His object? That we might be with Him forever. All the pathway is an education for this high vocation and calling.

This hidden mystery of love to us, the undeserving! For our sins the double blessing. “...whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory...even our faith” (1 John 5:4). He who believeth — to believe is to overcome. On the way to Emmaus Jesus, beginning from Moses and all the prophets, interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). He is the root! In Him is life. When we receive Christ, we receive God and the promises (Galatians 3:29), that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. I am heir to all the promises because I believe. A great heirship! I overcome because I believe the truth. The truth makes me free.

“It is God who exalteth, God who maketh rich. The Lord in His mighty arms bears thee up — it is the Lord that encompasseth round about thee. When I am weak, then I am strong.”



No wavering! This is the principle. He who believes is definite, and because Jesus is in it, it will come to pass. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). They that are poor in spirit are heirs to all. There is no limit to the power, for God is rich to all who call upon Him. Not the will of the flesh, but of God (John 1:13). Put in your claim for your children, your families, your co-workers, that many sons may be brought to glory (Hebrews 2:10), for it is all on the principle of faith.

The Christian And His Wardrobe



Text: Genesis 3:7, 21; Isaiah 3:16-24
 
Would the Lord be proud of this?
When we talk of the wardrobe of a Christian, we don’t mean the physical wooden, cement, or metal wardrobe but what he wears on his body.

The reason we wear clothes is clear from the Scriptures: to cover our nakedness. Anything more than this is to show off. It is important to note that a believer does not wear anything that can cause embarrassment or being ridicule to him, to the Church or to the name of Christ.

Believers must be careful with what they wear. When costly apparels begin to come into the wardrobe, it is a sure sign that consecration, commitment, modesty, self-denial, self-discipline have been put aside. And as it happened to Herod, the pride that comes thereof can lead to death (Acts 12:21-23).

We are to avoid too extremes of gorgeous dressing and shabby outlook because this will brings reproach to the name of Christ and His Church. We are to “let (our) moderation be known unto men” (Philippians 4:4). Seeking the glory of God and basic Christian moderation are timeless principles that guide the Christian in both texture and style of his clothes. It is often better to steer a sane, middle course. While we cannot afford to be stumbling block to others through our dressing and outlook, we cannot also tolerate shabby, shameful, scanty dressing.

Use of bathroom slippers to public places, hairdo patterned after some worldly superstars in music, sports, etc., obscene dressing that exposes underwear must be avoided. If a Christian is medically advised to keep beard, he must be clean-shaved. The Bible position – total abstinence – on use of jewellery, earrings, necklace, must be upheld. Ostentatious or worldly dressings are not part of Christian adornment. We cannot dress like Jezebel.

The Christian must always look descent, approachable and affable. The haircut of the Christian brother must not be repulsive or bushy. As a principle, do not put on what you cannot wear if Jesus were to go out with you. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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Let Him Hear You






It is refreshing to know that we have a link that connects to God. This link can be likened to a cable that connects an electronic device to a power source. Imagine a device that has no link to a power source, you will agree with me that, no matter how new or beautiful it is, it’s as good as dead one. That is how it is in the spiritual realm. Prayer is the cable that connects you to your source – God. It oils the hinges of your relationship with Him. It affords you the opportunity to make your request known to Him (Philippians 4:6)
 
Even more refreshing is the fact that God desires to hear from you. Little wonder our Lord Jesus Christ gave the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He expects you to come to Him with your problems, confusions, heartaches and everything that weighs you down. Do you not know that it displeases God to see His Children wallow in worry, self-pity and depression?

He says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face… then will I hear from heaven…” God looks forward to hearing from His Children. What is that challenge facing you today? Let Him hear you make your request with a bold assurance like the Psalmist, knowing that He will answer the requests (Psalm 4:3).

Often times, we hear people say, “I have been praying but it seems God is not listening!” The issue really is not that you pray, but how you pray. A sinner, for instance, has no business praying to God, except of course, it’s the prayer of repentance. Much as it is true that God wants to hear you pray, the one who treats God with total disregard and flagrantly violates His commandments cannot get His attention (Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 15:8).

Quotes: Think On These Things



May these inspirational quotes awaken and strengthen your faith to live victoriously for the Lord. Enjoy!

Quote | The Truth Media Blog


Pray to do the will of God in every situation; nothing else is worth praying for ~ John Mason

Does God seem far? If so, guess who moved – you ~ John Mason

When God is all you have, then will you realize that He is all you ever need in the first place ~ John Mason

To increase your value, get to know God ~ John Mason

Your tomorrow is like a blank cheque. It will definitely be rejected in the bank of life without God’s signature on it ~ Jacobs Adewale

Religion without righteousness won’t take you to heaven ~ W.F. Kumuyi

People who count for eternity don’t see as trifle the place, presence, purpose and power of God in their lives ~ Jacobs Adewale

The best gift you can give to anyone is to help and influence him or he to a point where such a person can continually think of heaven ~ W.F. Kumuyi

If you cannot bear the heat of the fire, what are you doing in the kitchen? If you don’t have longsuffering towards unbeliever’s persecution, why become a Christian? ~ W.F. Kumuyi

Quotes: Think On These Things




May these inspirational quotes awaken and strengthen your faith to live victoriously for the Lord. Enjoy!


Quotes | The Truth Media blog

I fear the Christian who has no emotion – his soul needs a tomb-stone --- Leonard Ravenhill

One thousand million lost people in this day are the casualties of the church’s faithlessness! --- Leonard Ravenhill

Love shows that you are strong. Hate shows that you are weak.

Every time you show a negative attitude to others, your love for Christ is questioned --- W.F. Kumuyi

What you will be should be what God has planned to make you – it does not and should not depend on the downfall of others. Men do not need to fail or fall into obscurity before you can step into your inheritance in Christ --- Gbile Akanni

The only thing you will carry to the grace that will see you through at the other side of the grace is the title: The child of God --- W.F. Kumuyi

Character confirms conversion to Christ. --- W.F. Kumuyi

Quotes: Think On These Things




May these inspirational quotes awaken and strengthen your faith to live victoriously for the Lord. Enjoy!


Quote | The Truth Media blog

Backsliders are the most joyless folks in the world --- Leonard Ravenhill

In these evil hours of aggressive, atheist philosophy and passive Christianity (so-called), we need Mordecai with a broken heart but a resolute will to lead us all in sack cloth and ashes --- Leonard Ravenhill

Alas that today there is more evidence of religious sensation before our eyes than evidence of religious regeneration and supernatural phenomenon! --- Leonard Ravenhill

Only those who fulfil God’s commands have a full claim on the Lord --- Leonard Ravenhill

There are many followers of the Lord these days. But how many are true disciples – disciple ones? --- Leonard Ravenhill

This is an hour of anarchy in the world, of lawlessness in the church. For everyone to do what is “right in his own eyes” is thought to be democracy in the spiritual realm. But does democracy exist to the soldier? (We are soldiers of Christ Jesus – 2 Timothy 2:3) can he fight when he wants, sleep when he likes? No! The emotions must be mastered; iron must enter the will as well as the soul --- Leonard Ravenhill