![]() ![]() Teaching is sweet because it is suitable to the renewed man (Jeremiah 15:16). Luther said he would not live in paradise without the Word, but with the Word he could live in hell itself. David rolled them as sugar under his tongue, and received more sweetness than Samson from his honeycomb. Truth only understood needs to be put into action and practice. The Lord is my strength and my shield in him my heart trusts, and I am helped my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. I have experienced this word upon mine heart, and can set my seal that God is true.” God’s teaching is a powerful teaching. Those taught of God can say: “As we have heard, so we have seen. The sweet singer of Israel had comfortable presence. They can speak of their communion with God (Psalm 23:4). I am sure he will keep it safe to that day.” Those taught of God in affliction can speak experimentally, in one degree or another. Thus, Paul, “I know who I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12) – “I have experienced his faithfulness and his all-sufficiency I can trust my all with him. He knew it more, loved it better, and was more transformed in the nature of it. Some only know notionally, but David knew by experience he became more acquainted with the Word. ![]() When God teaches, the soul experiences truth as David (Psalm 119:71). The soul both sweetly and freely acquiesces in the revealed truths. The Holy Spirit brings divine truths in such a clear and convincing light that the soul sits down fully satisfied. He commands light to shine out of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6). When God teaches, he applies his instruction to the heart. “If we are taught by God in affliction we are blessed. We preach Christ and him crucified in a different fashion, and to all gainsayers we reply, "We have not so learned Christ.” The gospel of the Bible is not such a gospel as that. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith without works not unless we preach the sovereignty of God in his dispensation of grace nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah nor, I think, can we preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the peculiar redemption which Christ made for his elect and chosen people nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation, after having believed. Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I have my own ideas, and those I always state boldly. I take it that man does not preach Christ and him crucified, who can get through a sermon without mentioning Christ's name once nor does that man preach Christ and him crucified, who leaves out the Holy Spirit's work, who never says a word about the Holy Ghost, so that indeed the hearers might say, "We do not so much as know whether there be a Holy Ghost." And I have my own private opinion, that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and him crucified, unless you preach what now-a-days is called Calvinism. I do not believe it is preaching Christ and him crucified, to leave out the main cardinal doctrines of the Word of God, and preach a religion which is all a mist and a haze, without any definite truths whatever. Philippians 4:13-“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.“My friends, I do not believe it is preaching Christ and him crucified, to give people a batch of philosophy every Sunday morning and evening, and neglect the truths of this Holy Book.Psalm 46:5-“God is within her, she will not fall God will help her at break of day.”.Nehemiah 8:10-"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.". ![]() Psalm 73:26-"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.".2 Corinthians 12:9-“My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.”.1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. And if you are looking for a quick dose of inspiration to keep top of mind, here are five Bible verses about strength that are short enough to commit to memory: 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Scroll through this collection to find the verses that speak the most to you. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ![]() As it is written in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The Good Book has a lot to say about finding strength and courage in difficult times, and as you read through the 32 verses that follow, you'll begin to see common theme: Strength comes from God and our faith in him. And when hard times make us feel weak or depleted, B ible verses about strength can heal and fortify our souls. There are Bible verses about love to deepen our understanding of our relationships and verses about encouragement to lift us up when we are down. In every season of life, we can turn to the Bible for a guiding light. ![]()
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