Faith Community Bible ChurchWords of Wisdom
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" .Proverbs 25:11
Shadows of the Great Rock
By: John MacDuff
And a Man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land." Isaiah 32:2 A great rock! "That Rock is Christ," and "the shadows" are those precious truths--those sublime grounds and utterances of trust and confidence, under which His people may calmly and peacefully repose. His people are beautifully described, in the words of one of the minor prophets, as ... moreONLY A FEW THINGS MATTER
By: A.W. TOZER
It has been suggested here before that life, for all its apparent complexities, is at bottom very simple indeed if we could only realize it. Thank God, only a few things matter. The rest are incidental and unimportant. Nothing that matters is new. "There is no new thing under the sun," said Solomon, and he could hardly have meant that there had been no mechanical development or social or political changes under the sun, for he observed elsewhere that man has "sought ... moreA PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
By: Jonathan Edwards
Lord God Almighty, I understand that I am unable to do anything without your help, so I ask you to enable me by your grace to fulfill your will. Give me grace to do whatever brings most glory and honor to you, pleasure and profit to me, and life and love to others. Help me to number my days, spending my time wisely, living my life with all my might while I still have breath. Humble me in the knowledge that I am chief of sinners; when I hear of the sins of others, help me to not ... moreThe Fear of God
By: J. Gresham Machen
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matthew 10:28. These words were not spoken by Jonathan Edwards. They were not spoken by Cotton Mather. They were not spoken by Calvin, or Augustine, or by Paul. But these words were spoken by Jesus. And when put together with the many other words like them in the Gospels, they demonstrate the utter falsity of the picture of ... moreStrength In Weakness
By: Alexander Mc Claren
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory .in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). This very remarkable page in the autobiography of the Apostle shows us that he, too, belonged to the great army of martyrs who, with hearts bleeding and pierced through and through with a ... moreThe World Passeth Away
By: Horatius Bonar
The things that are seen are temporal. Ours is a dying world, and here we have no continuing city. But a few years,-it may be less,-and all things here are changed. But a few years,-it may be less,-and the Lord shall have come, and the last trumpet shall have sounded, and the great sentence shall have been pronounced upon each of the sons of men. There is a world that passeth not away. It is fair and glorious. It is called "the inheritance in light." It is bright with the ... moreGrace, Mercy, and Peace
By: Alexander Maclaren
Grace be with you, Mercy, and Peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love" (2 John 3). We have here a very unusual form of the Apostolic salutation. "Grace, Mercy, and Peace" are put together in this fashion only in Pauls two Epistles to Timothy, and in this the present instance; and all reference to the Holy Spirit as an agent in the benediction is, as there, omitted. The three main words, "Grace, Mercy, ... moreDo You Confess?
By: J.C. Ryle
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 The question which forms the title of this tract is at all times deeply important. Among the foundation-stones of saving religion few deserve more serious attention than "confession of sins." But there are occasions when circumstances give a particular importance to particular doctrines in religion. The assaults of enemies ... moreProphecies of the Resurrection
By: Henry Morris
Just as creation is the most certain truth of real science, so the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most certain fact of genuine history. And as creation by God required His substitutionary death and bodily resurrection to give purpose and meaning to history, so Christs resurrection required the power of the Creator to make it happen. The possibility of macro-evolution is refuted by the observed fact that it has never occurred in all recorded history, that there are no ... moreWhat Do You Do When Fear Overcomes You?
By: Jay Adams
Of course Im not talking about the sort of fear that keeps you from falling over the edge of a cliff or that helps you obey that sign at the zoo: "Keep Your Hands Away From The Lions Cages." No, God gave us the capacity to fear for a good purpose, just as He gave us every emotion for a proper use, helpful to us and honoring to Him. Because of fear we are able to escape injury and dangers that otherwise would destroy most of us before we reached maturity. It is those irrational ... moreThe Bible: It’s Sufficiency and Supremacy
By: C. H. MacKintosh (1820-1896)
Some, we are aware, would fain persuade us that things are so totally changed since the Bible was penned, that we need other guidance than that which its precious pages supply. They tell us that society is not what it was; that the human race has made progress; that there has been such a development of the powers of nature, the resources of science, and the appliances of philosophy, that to maintain the sufficiency and supremacy of the Bible, at such a point in the worlds history as the ... morePicture of a Prophet
By: Leonard Ravenhill
The prophet in his day is fully accepted of God and totally rejected by men. Years back, Dr. Gregory Mantle was right when he said, "No man can be fully accepted until he is totally rejected." The prophet of the Lord is aware of both these experiences. They are his "brand name." The group, challenged by the prophet because they are smug and comfortably insulated from a perishing world in their warm but untested theology, is not likely to vote him "Man of the ... moreDuties of Parents
By: J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 I believe that most professing Christians are acquainted with our sermon text. The sound of it is probably very familiar to your ears, like an old tune. It is likely that you have heard it, or read it, talked of it, or quoted it, many times. Is that not true? But, despite it being a well-known Bible verse, how little do we regard its truth! The doctrine it contains appears ... moreGoodbye to Glory - Ichabod
By: Robert G. Lee (1886-1974)
"And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. ... moreA Word in Power
By: A.W. Tozer
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thess. 1:5) If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Rev. 3:1) To one who is a student merely, these verses might be interesting, but to a serious man intent upon gaining eternal life they might well prove more than a little ... moreHoliness and Prayer
By: E.M. Bounds
It is worthy of note that the praying to which such transcendent position is given and from which great results are attributable, is not simply the saying of prayers, but holy praying. It is the "prayers of the saints," the prayers of the holy men of God. Behind such praying, giving to it energy and flame are the men and women who are wholly devoted to God, who are entirely separated from sin, and fully separated unto God. These are they who always give energy, force, and ... moreThe Cure for Care
By: J. R. Miller
There is no life into which do not come many things calculated to cause anxiety and distraction of mind. There are great sorrows; there are perplexities as to duty; there are disappointments and losses; there are annoyances and hindrances; there are chafings and irritations in ordinary life; and there are countless petty cares and frets. All of these tend to break the heart’s peace and to disturb its quiet, yet there is no lesson that is urged more continuously or more earnestly in the ... moreWe Must Have Better Christians
By: A. W. Tozer
To talk of "better" Christians is to use language foreign to many persons. To them all Christians are alike; all have been justified and forgiven and are the children of God, so to make comparisons between them is to suggest division and bigotry and any number of horrible things. What is forgotten is that a Christian is a born-one, an embodiment of growing life, and as such may be retarded, stunted, undernourished or injured very much as any other organism. Favorable conditions ... moreThe Day of Golden Opportunity
By: Reuben Archer Torrey (1856-1928)
"The Holy Spirit says, Today" — Hebrews 3:7 The day of golden opportunity is today. Golden opportunities, opportunities of priceless worth, are open to every one of us today. But "tomorrow" has no sure promise for any one of us. "The Holy Spirit says, Today," and Conscience also cries, "Today," and the voice of Reason and the voice of History and the voice of Experience unite in one loud chorus and shout, "Today." Only the voices of ... moreWhy We Must Think Rightly About God
By: A.W. Tozer
O, Lord God Almighty, not the God of the philosophers and the wise but the God of the prophets and apostles; and better than all, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may I express Thee unblamed? They that know Thee not may call upon Thee as other than Thou art, and so worship not Thee but a creature of their own fancy; therefore enlighten our minds that we may know Thee as Thou art, so that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. ... moreThe Word Made Flesh
By: Robert Murray MCheyne
You remember, brethren, when Philip went down to Samaria, it is said that he preached Christ unto them, and there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:5, 8). You remember that the apostle Paul says, I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Now, brethren, it is really the case that the only object in the world that can give peace to your soul is Christ, and him crucified. Those of you who are not awakened are in a great mistake in ... moreThe Prayer of a Minor Prophet
By: A.W. Tozer
The covenant and prayer of a preacher This is the prayer of a man called to be a witness to the nations. This is what he said to his Lord on the day of his ordination. After the elders and ministers had prayed and laid their hands on him he withdrew to meet his Savior in the secret place and in the silence, farther in than his well-meaning brethren could take him. And he said: O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou has called me to an awesome task in a grave and ... moreThe Canon of Scripture
By: Anonymous Author
Introduction The Bible is not an ordinary book composed by a gifted author in a couple of years. It is not the work of a brainstorming saint. Rather, it is God’s Word which He communicated to man over a period of 1600 years. It contains 66 individual books and was written by approximately 40 different human authors. This ancient Jewish book is the Word of God. Since the beginning of the church at Pentecost, the church has faced many challenges and doctrinal errors. The church has ... moreThe Death of Discernment in the Church
By: Mike Gendron
Have you considered the spiritual health of your church in these days of tolerance and compromise? Is the leadership earnestly contending for the faith against the current wave of ecumenism? A. W. Tozer used the illustration of circulating blood to describe the health of a church. “The red corpuscles are like faith - they carry the life giving oxygen to every part of the body. The white cells are like discernment - they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out to the drain. ... moreWhy Christian Standards Fall
By: Ivan Foster
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. – I Timothy 4:1. This question has been given to me to answer. Before I do so, perhaps we should consider if the question is legitimate. Are those who claim that standards have fallen correct? We must not mistake change of style for a fall in standards. We are not talking about colors and fashions tonight. When I was a youngster, there were only two matters taken into consideration when you ... moreThe Cry for Revival
By: Robert Murray McCheyne
"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" Psalms 85:6 It is interesting to notice the time when this prayer was offered. It was a time of mercy. "Lord thou hast been favorable unto thy land". It was a time when God had led many to the knowledge of Christ, and covered many sins. "thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people." It was now they began to feel their need of another visit of mercy -- "Wilt thou not revive us ... moreThe Duty of Searching the Scriptures
By: George Whitfield (1714-1770)
"Search the Scriptures." - John 5:39 When the Sadducees came to our blessed Lord, and put to him the question, "whose wife that woman should be in the next life, who had seven husbands in this," he told them "they erred, not knowing the scriptures." And if we would know whence all the errors, that have over-spread the church of Christ, first arose, we should find that, in a great measure, they flowed from the same fountain, ignorance of the word of God. Our ... moreThe Old Cross and the New
By: A. W. Tozer
All unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental. From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique-a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same ... moreHoliness
By: J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
"Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." - Hebrews 12:14 The text which heads this page opens up a subject of deep importance. That subject is practical holiness. It suggests a question which demands the attention of all professing Christians-Are we holy? Shall we see the Lord? That question can never be out of season. The wise man tells us, "There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh-a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Eccles. 3:4, 7); but ... moreSelf-deception and How to Avoid It
By: A.W. Tozer
Of all forms of deception, self-deception is the most deadly, and of all deceived persons the self-deceived are the least likely to discover the fraud. The reason for this is simple. When a man is deceived by another he is deceived against his will. He is contending against an adversary and is temporarily the victim of the other’s guile. Since he expects his foe to take advantage of him he is watchful and quick to suspect trickery. Under such circumstances it is possible to be ... moreThe Kind of Revival We Need
By: Charles Haddon Spurgeon
It is good for us to draw nigh unto God in prayer. Our minds are grieved to see so little attention given to united prayer by many churches. How can we expect a blessing if we are too idle to ask for it? How can we look for a Pentecost if we never meet with one another, in one place, to wait upon the Lord? Brethren, we shall never see much change for the better in our churches till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians. But now that we have come together, ... morePreaching the Word in a Pagan Age
By: Rick Shrader
William Wordsworth once said, "Language is the incarnation of thought,"1 which may tell us either why conversation is so scarce these days, or why it is such light fare. But it was Confucius who said, "When words lose their meaning, people lose their liberty."2 That makes the current state of our language very critical. "Anyone wishing to save humanity today must first of all save the word,"3 Jacques Ellul wrote. As preachers, our interest in language is also ... moreIs Worship Boring?
By: Don Whitney
In December 2000, I was asked by a writer of Word and Way (the newspaper of the Missouri Baptist Convention) to contribute to a multi-page, special section on the subject of "Is Church Boring?" My input was requested because in my responsibilities as professor of Spiritual Formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary I teach a required class on "Worship Leadership, " and also because I have written on and speak frequently in churches and conferences on the subject ... moreThe Purity Principle
By: Randy Alcorn
The Purity Principle is this: Purity is always smart; impurity is always stupid. Does God really argue for sexual purity on the basis that its the smart choice, while impurity is stupid? Judge for yourself: Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another mans wife? For a mans ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of ... moreWhy Join a Church?
By: Kenneth Kantzer
"Scripture makes abundantly clear that we are to be members of a local church." - Kenneth Kantzer "Why should I join the church?" Despite my seminary training and pastoral experience, I was unprepared for this new Christians question. He agreed from our study of the Scripture that he needed to identify himself as a disciple of Christ through baptism, but then he asked, "Can you show me from the New Testament that Im supposed to officially join ... moreThe Agenda of Islam - A War Between Civilizations
By: Professor Moshe Sharon
Fundamentalism is a word that came from the heart of the Christian religion. It means faith that goes by the word of the Bible. Fundamental Christianity, or going with the Bible, does not mean going around and killing people. There is no fundamental Islam. There is only Islam full stop. The question is how the Koran is interpreted. All of a sudden we see that the greatest interpreters of Islam are politicians in the western world. They know better than all the speakers in the mosques, all ... moreThe Power of the Holy Spirit
By: J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
There is hope in the Gospel for any man, so long as he lives. There is infinite willingness in Christ to pardon sin. There is infinite power in the Holy Spirit to change hearts. There are many diseases of the body which are incurable. The cleverest doctors cannot heal them. But, thank God! there are no incurable diseases of soul. All manner and quantity of sins can be washed away by Christ. The hardest and most wicked of hearts can be changed. Reader, I say again, while there is life there ... more