In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, you see the exposure of the wicked ways of Israel. They were turning their backs on the poor and needy. They even refused to show kindness and love to their own flesh and blood. Their religion was as cold as the north side of a tombstone in January. I tell you, they didn’t have a heart for God. And when you’ve got a heart for God, you’ll have a heart for other folk. You’ll want to be helpful to them and a blessing to them, friends. And you can’t be hateful and be fundamental at the same time. All of this criticism today, all of the unloveliness today, it hurts the cause of Christ.
May 2, 2024
1 Thessalonians 4:11, “And that ye study to be quiet ….” Now, my friend, that’s an interesting one. That’s a commandment for Christians. Study to be quiet. “And to do your own business,” that’s a good one. And actually, it means tend to your own business—“tend to your own knitting” is the way I used to hear it as a boy. Keep your nose out of other people’s affairs. “And to work with your hands, as we commanded you.” And I believe that every Christian ought to have some type of activity whereby he’s doing something that’s tangible for God today. That’s a very wonderful thing, by the way.
May 1, 2024
When you’ve got a heart for God, you’ll have a heart for other folk. You’ll want to be helpful to them and a blessing to them, friends. And you can’t be hateful and be fundamental at the same time. All of this criticism today, all of the unloveliness today, it hurts the cause of Christ. God told His people in their day, “Away with it. I don’t want it. It’s no good.” You’re just going through a form. You’re playing church. And you may be having a little fun at it, although I don’t think you’re having fun. I think it’s become a burden to you, but you go through with it. Because you’re trying to keep up a front before the world. God says, “Let’s come clean. Let’s demonstrate in our lives that we’ve got reality.” This is tremendous.
April 30, 2024
When you wake up during the night seasons, what do you think about, friends? Do you begin to worry about the next day? Oh, I do a lot of that. But it’s wonderful, sometimes, to just turn Him on at night when you are thinking about these things because that’s exactly what Paul was talking about over in the fourth chapter of Philippians when he says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true (that’s Christ), whatsoever things are honest (that’s Christ), whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are good, of good report or of excellence; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” Meditate upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 29, 2024
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Now God, in the last days, comforts His own because of who He is. And the Eternal God promises to take those who do not trust in themselves but trust in Him, and He covers them as a mother hen covers her brood. And what peace and security that there is in that and in these days for those that are God’s own.
April 26, 2024
Oh, to think upon the Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful it is. Oh, Christian friend, we are missing so much today. Are you satisfied with these little courses now? Are you willing to have some little ritual in your life, be the solution? May I say to you—oh, to have Him today, to have Him today as the very object of your life, the one who brings in the excitement, the ecstasy, and the fellowship, and the joy, and His grace, and His love, and His mercy. It’s all yours, just open the door. He’s knocking right now. Even Jesus.
April 25, 2024
The way of God and the way of man are put in contrast and conflict. And the objection is man is not asked to seek to God—but on the contrary, God is seeking man. Well, I will buy that. It’s accurate. But the call today—and from the human aspect—human responsibility is not defeated by the sovereign purposes and election of God. And, therefore, the Lord Jesus could say, “All the Father giveth me, they will come to me.” And “He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” You can sit on the sidelines and argue all you want to that you’re not elect, but, my friend, the minute that you come, you’re elect. And that’s up to you.
April 24, 2024
God was merciful to David. And He will be merciful to you and me today. I had a fellow—I’d heard him speak down in Pershing Square years ago, deriding and ridiculing the Bible. I saw him in church one Sunday evening when I was pastoring in downtown Los Angeles. After service he came up to me and he says, “Preacher, I have a question to ask you. Why did God choose a man like David?” I said, “I’ll tell you why God chose a man like David. So that you and I would be able to come to Him. Because if God will take David, He might take you and He might take me.” And I said, “That’s the reason.” The “sure mercies of David”—how wonderful they are.
April 23, 2024
The first word after the crucifixion in Isaiah 53 is “sing,” and it’s a call to Israel to sing. But they’re not singing over there today. In the past, Israel has been a barren wife. But her future is more glorious as there are going to be many children in the future. The Word of God makes it clear that the great days are right down yonder ahead of us. It gets “gooder and gooder” all the way along, if you’re a child of God. Today’s better than yesterday. And you want to know something? Tomorrow’s going to be better than today. Can’t have it any more wonderful than this, friends.
April 22, 2024
You see, redemption brings a song into the world. All that the world can produce is the blues and rock music—not pretty. Not really joyful—it’s always a plaintive note. And I want to tell you, it’s only redemption that can give you a song. And here we have it. The world sings the blues. The redeemed sing of blessings. The world has its rock and roll. The redeemed sing of redemption. The world plays jazz. The redeemed have the reality of joy. And someday, we’re going to all join in this.
April 19, 2024