John Piper, on the prayer of Daniel in Daniel chapter 9: Look how the prayer comes to its climax in verses 18b–19: “We do not present our supplications before thee on the ground of our righteousness but on the ground of thy great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, give heed and act; delay … More What is our deepest confidence in prayer?
“How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” Job 21:34 John Piper in a transcript from the radio program, “Ask Pastor John:” The big picture of Job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in God’s sight. He was leading … More Misapplied Theology and the Big Picture
Whether you’ve been reading through the Bible all year, or have just joined us, what a blessing to come to this little letter of Jude! To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: (Jude 1) John MacArthur says: Spurgeon, a famous English preacher of the 19th century, said, “The … More Spurgeon: God’s special call is the forked flash from heaven
J.C. Ryle on John 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them… We are taught, for another thing, in these verses, the uselessness of religious knowledge if not accompanied by practice. We read, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” It sounds as if our … More Ryle: Useless religious knowledge and sinking deeper in the pit
Do your eyes glaze over and lose interest when you come to passages in the Bible that just make no sense to you? Today, we come to a confusing section of Daniel, who has a vision about a ram and a goat with horns. This little horn in chapter 8 is not the same little … More What do the horns in Daniel 8 have to do with Hanukkah?
One dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure, his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.” (Job 21:22-26) Ray Stedman, in a sermon, “Why Doesn’t … More Ever had to file your theology in the wastebasket because it did not fit what you’re going through?
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 4 Charles H. Spurgeon: No parents can say from their hearts, “We have no greater joy than to hear that our children walk in truth,” unless they are themselves walking in truth. No wolf prays for its … More What gives [Christian] parents the greatest joy?
John Piper, in a sermon, “Daniel’s Defiance of Darius in Prayer” (Daniel 6) Verse 10 just takes your breath away. Here is where I get the insight that Daniel’s prayer was daring and defiant and disciplined. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in … More Six Daring Things About Daniel’s Prayer
Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. —Job 20:12-14 Sam Storms, of Enjoying God Ministries, comments: Zophar uses vivid … More Sam Storms: One day you’ll need some moral Tums!
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does … More J.C. Ryle: content to believe reverently, what we cannot grasp mentally or explain distinctly.
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