“many a man who has seen the light is apt to switch it off when the Old Adam starts to come to life in him”

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12) - Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, (Ps. 62:8) for things agreeable to his will, (1 John 5:14) in the name of Christ, (John 16:23) with confession of our sins, (Ps. 32:5–6, Dan. 9:4) and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies. (Phil. 4:6)

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." (Matthew 10:40) - Here is the test of whether someone speak for God or not: do their words echo the other words of God we find recorded in Scripture?

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:7-8). - Keep moving the sail until you catch the wind!

Put on the gospel armour, each piece put on with pray'r. Where duty calls, or danger, be never wanting there.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)" - There is more comfort in the Bible than in the newspaper.

What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

The roots are deep, and let’s pray that they endure.

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. (Matthew 15:18-20) - So the question is: how is your heart?

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39) - As we make following God our priority, rather than our own desires and fear, we discover life in all its abundance.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47–48) - In the end, though, it is only Jesus who can give you answers to the questions you have.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. - Rather than descend into bitterness as she grew, her faith gave her a solid foundation

"I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. " (Proverbs 24:30-32) - His attention drifted, and he became less alert.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5) - We might not be able to look to the trees, but we can look to God.

Worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! (Psalm 96:9) - “We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth.” Vladimir was convinced, and so was born Russian Orthodoxy.

for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) - It is a pattern which prepares us for whatever we may meet in our lives since we are always aware of ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23)

Oh what a thing it is to cast yourself on to the loving mercy of God. What it is to gratefully accept all that Christ has done for you. What a relief to know that you are forgiven. What a joy it is to live in peace with God, to go along with his pattern for living. To go with his grain.

Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

There is a green hill far away, without a city wall. Where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5) - And so you can come before God now - wherever you are - without the need of yew trees, wells and even ancient church buildings. So pray.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. (Isaiah 40:28–29)

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6) - "In short, that person must have a very soft head, or a very hard heart, or both, that could sit under his ministry unaffected”

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) - Our sins were cast upon his shoulders at the crucifixion and received their just rewards. And then we are clothed in his righteousness, what is known in the theological trade as “double-imputation”. A wonderful exchange!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:16–20) - He didn’t simply stand up and say “I’m God” but did the things only God could do: forgave sins, gave life to the dead, restored the blind and lame to wholeness.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) - We are happy to call good things “blessings”, but it is all to natural to fail to see that there can be good in hardship.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (Jeremiah 31:3) - O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee

I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man. (Hosea 11:9) - With God there is great forgiveness, an enduring patience and an everlasting call to humans to return to him.

The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great. (Psalm 115:12-13) - You were not created by him to be forgotten, but your prayers are heard and you sorrow noticed.

Some have speculated that perhaps his labours had produced a fresh understanding. Others speculate some sort of breakdown. All that was apparent at the time was that he was silent.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” (John 7:37-38) - So go to Christ and drink!