YAHWEH-NISSI

 

• 1 John 4:8 - Evening Devotional for Jun. 5th
  "He that loveth not knoweth not God."—1 John 4:8Evening ThoughtThe distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave himself for me." Then love gives the countersign, and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. "We love him because he first loved us." In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly to be seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ, and rested upon it as a man leaneth upon a staff whose trustiness he has tried. The love which they felt towards the Lord was not a quiet emotion which they hid within themselves in the secret chamber of their souls, and which they only spake of in their private assemblies when they met on the first day of the week, and sang hymns in honour of Christ Jesus the crucified, but it was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy, that it was visible in all their actions, spoke in their common talk, and looked out of their eyes even in their commonest glances. Love to Jesus was a flame which fed upon the core and heart of their being; and, therefore, from its own force burned its way into the outer man, and shone there. Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love to Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love-the love of Christ constraineth them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Saviour with a pure heart, fervently. My reader, do you love him? Ere you sleep give an honest answer to a weighty question! Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• 1 Timothy 3:16 - Evening Devotional for Jun. 4th
  "Received up into glory."—1 Timothy 3:16Evening ThoughtWe have seen our well-beloved Lord in the days of his flesh, humiliated and sore vexed; for he was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He whose brightness is as the morning, wore the sackcloth of sorrow as his daily dress: shame was his mantle, and reproach was his vesture. Yet now, inasmuch as he has triumphed over all the powers of darkness upon the bloody tree, our faith beholds our King returning with dyed garments from Edom, robed in the splendour of victory. How glorious must he have been in the eyes of seraphs, when a cloud received him out of mortal sight, and he ascended up to heaven! Now he wears the glory which he had with God or ever the earth was, and yet another glory above all-that which he has well earned in the fight against sin, death, and hell. As victor he wears the illustrious crown. Hark how the song swells high! It is a new and sweeter song: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, for he hath redeemed us unto God by his blood!" He wears the glory of an Intercessor who can never fail, of a Prince who can never be defeated, of a Conqueror who has vanquished every foe, of a Lord who has the heart's allegiance of every subject. Jesus wears all the glory which the pomp of heaven can bestow upon him, which ten thousand times ten thousand angels can minister to him. You cannot with your utmost stretch of imagination conceive his exceeding greatness; yet there will be a further revelation of it when he shall descend from heaven in great power, with all the holy angels-"Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Oh, the splendour of that glory! It will ravish his people's hearts. Nor is this the close, for eternity shall sound his praise, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever!" Reader, if you would joy in Christ's glory hereafter, he must be glorious in your sight now. Is he so? Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• Philippians 2:8 - Evening Devotional for Jun. 3rd
  "He humbled himself."—Philippians 2:8Evening ThoughtJesus is the great teacher of lowliness of heart. We need daily to learn of him. See the Master taking a towel and washing his disciples' feet! Follower of Christ, wilt thou not humble thyself? See him as the Servant of servants, and surely thou canst not be proud! Is not this sentence the compendium of his biography, "He humbled himself"? Was he not on earth always stripping off first one robe of honour and then another, till, naked, he was fastened to the cross, and there did he not empty out his inmost self, pouring out his life-blood, giving up for all of us, till they laid him penniless in a borrowed grave? How low was our dear Redeemer brought! How then can we be proud? Stand at the foot of the cross, and count the purple drops by which you have been cleansed; see the thorn-crown; mark his scourged shoulders, still gushing with encrimsoned rills; see hands and feet given up to the rough iron, and his whole self to mockery and scorn; see the bitterness, and the pangs, and the throes of inward grief, showing themselves in his outward frame; hear the thrilling shriek, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And if you do not lie prostrate on the ground before that cross, you have never seen it: if you are not humbled in the presence of Jesus, you do not know him. You were so lost that nothing could save you but the sacrifice of God's only begotten. Think of that, and as Jesus stooped for you, bow yourself in lowliness at his feet. A sense of Christ's amazing love to us has a greater tendency to humble us than even a consciousness of our own guilt. May the Lord bring us in contemplation to Calvary, then our position will no longer be that of the pompous man of pride, but we shall take the humble place of one who loves much because much has been forgiven him. Pride cannot live beneath the cross. Let us sit there and learn our lesson, and then rise and carry it into practice. Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• Matthew 19:16 - Evening Devotional for Jun. 2nd
  "Good Master."—Matthew 19:16Evening ThoughtIf the young man in the gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, how much more fitly may I thus address him! He is indeed my Master in both senses, a ruling Master and a teaching Master. I delight to run upon his errands, and to sit at his feet. I am both his servant and his disciple, and count it my highest honour to own the double character. If he should ask me why I call him "good," I should have a ready answer. It is true that "there is none good but one, that is, God," but then he is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines forth in him. In my experience, I have found him good, so good, indeed, that all the good I have has come to me through him. He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for he raised me by his Spirit's power; he has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. Never could there be a better Master, for his service is freedom, his rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When he teaches me as my Rabbi, he is unspeakably good, his doctrine is divine, his manner is condescending, his spirit is gentleness itself. No error mingles with his instruction-pure is the golden truth which he brings forth, and all his teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels find him a good Master and delight to pay their homage at his footstool. The ancient saints proved him to be a good Master, and each of them rejoiced to sing, "I am thy servant, O Lord!" My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will bear this witness before my friends and neighbours, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Master. O that they would do so! They would never repent so wise a deed. If they would but take his easy yoke, they would find themselves in so royal a service that they would enlist in it for ever. Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• Isaiah 51:3 - Evening Devotional for Jun. 1st
  "He will make her wilderness like Eden."—Isaiah 51:3Evening ThoughtMethinks, I see in vision a howling wilderness, a great and terrible desert, like to the Sahara. I perceive nothing in it to relieve the eye, all around I am wearied with a vision of hot and arid sand, strewn with ten thousand bleaching skeletons of wretched men who have expired in anguish, having lost their way in the pitiless waste. What an appalling sight! How horrible! a sea of sand without a bound, and without an oasis, a cheerless graveyard for a race forlorn! But behold and wonder! Upon a sudden, upspringing from the scorching sand I see a plant of renown; and as it grows it buds, the bud expands-it is a rose, and at its side a lily bows its modest head; and, miracle of miracles! as the fragrance of those flowers is diffused the wilderness is transformed into a fruitful field, and all around it blossoms exceedingly, the glory of Lebanon is given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. Call it not Sahara, call it Paradise. Speak not of it any longer as the valley of deathshade, for where the skeletons lay bleaching in the sun, behold a resurrection is proclaimed, and up spring the dead, a mighty army, full of life immortal. Jesus is that plant of renown, and his presence makes all things new. Nor is the wonder less in each individual's salvation. Yonder I behold you, dear reader, cast out, an infant, unswathed, unwashed, defiled with your own blood, left to be food for beasts of prey. But lo, a jewel has been thrown into your bosom by a divine hand, and for its sake you have been pitied and tended by divine providence, you are washed and cleansed from your defilement, you are adopted into heaven's family, the fair seal of love is upon your forehead, and the ring of faithfulness is on your hand-you are now a prince unto God, though once an orphan, cast away. O prize exceedingly the matchless power and grace which changes deserts into gardens, and makes the barren heart to sing for joy. Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• Psalms 103:3 - Evening Devotional for May. 31st
  "Who healeth all thy diseases."—Psalms 103:3Evening ThoughtHumbling as is the statement, yet the fact is certain, that we are all more or less suffering under the disease of sin. What a comfort to know that we have a great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us! Let us think of him awhile to-night. His cures are very speedy-there is life in a look at him; his cures are radical-he strikes at the centre of the disease; and hence, his cures are sure and certain. He never fails, and the disease never returns. There is no relapse where Christ heals; no fear that his patients should be merely patched up for a season, he makes new men of them: a new heart also does he give them, and a right spirit does he put with them. He is well skilled in all diseases. Physicians generally have some speciality. Although they may know a little about almost all our pains and ills, there is usually one disease which they have studied above all others; but Jesus Christ is thoroughly acquainted with the whole of human nature. He is as much at home with one sinner as with another, and never yet did he meet with an out-of-the-way case that was difficult to him. He has had extraordinary complications of strange diseases to deal with, but he has known exactly with one glance of his eye how to treat the patient. He is the only universal doctor; and the medicine he gives is the only true catholicon, healing in every instance. Whatever our spiritual malady may be, we should apply at once to this Divine Physician. There is no brokenness of heart which Jesus cannot bind up. "His blood cleanseth from all sin." We have but to think of the myriads who have been delivered from all sorts of diseases through the power and virtue of his touch, and we shall joyfully put ourselves in his hands. We trust him, and sin dies; we love him, and grace lives; we wait for him and grace is strengthened; we see him as he is, and grace is perfected for ever. Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
• Romans 6:6 - Evening Devotional for May. 30th
  "That henceforth we should not serve sin."—Romans 6:6Evening ThoughtChristian, what hast thou to do with sin? Hath it not cost thee enough already? Burnt child, wilt thou play with the fire? What! when thou hast already been between the jaws of the lion, wilt thou step a second time into his den? Hast thou not had enough of the old serpent? Did he not poison all thy veins once, and wilt thou play upon the hole of the asp, and put thy hand upon the cockatrice's den a second time? Oh, be not so mad! so foolish! Did sin ever yield thee real pleasure? Didst thou find solid satisfaction in it? If so, go back to thine old drudgery, and wear the chain again, if it delight thee. But inasmuch as sin did never give thee what it promised to bestow, but deluded thee with lies, be not a second time snared by the old fowler- be free, and let the remembrance of thy ancient bondage forbid thee to enter the net again! It is contrary to the designs of eternal love, which all have an eye to thy purity and holiness; therefore run not counter to the purposes of thy Lord. Another thought should restrain thee from sin. Christians can never sin cheaply; they pay a heavy price for iniquity. Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul; therefore be not the serf and bondman of sin. There is yet a higher argument: each time you "serve sin" you have "Crucified the Lord afresh, and put him to an open shame." Can you bear that thought? Oh! if you have fallen into any special sin during this day, it may be my Master has sent this admonition this evening, to bring you back before you have backslidden very far. Turn thee to Jesus anew; he has not forgotten his love to thee; his grace is still the same. With weeping and repentance, come thou to his footstool, and thou shalt be once more received into his heart; thou shalt be set upon a rock again, and thy goings shall be established. Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.

“To see the playlist click on “Playlist: Gospel” in the top right corner”

• Today's Verse - 2 Thessalonians 1:11
  We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.—2 Thessalonians 1:11Thoughts on Today's Verse...Paul prays for God to be active in the lives of these new Christians in Thessalonica. He asks that God maximize the good they intend to accomplish and fully bless every good deed they do out of their commitment to their faith. What new believer needs to know that you are praying this prayer for them? Pray it for them and let them know you did! Let's also find ways to affirm and encourage other believers seeking to honor the Lord with their intentions and actions. In our divided and hyper-critical world, let's help each other know our efforts are appreciated and that we have brothers and sisters who lovingly and prayerfully support each other.My Prayer...Strong and mighty Father, please bless several new Christians on my heart today. Help them recognize your presence in their lives. Please maximize the good in every effort they make and every intention they have to honor you and bless your people. Protect them from the evil one. In Jesus' name, I ask for this blessing. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - Romans 10:14
  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?—Romans 10:14Thoughts on Today's Verse...Since "calling on the name of the Lord" is essential for salvation (Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9-13), then what is going to happen if we don't speak about Jesus with those who do not know him? We must share Jesus with everyone who will listen. That "someone preaching to them" must be us — you and me! Plus, we do not want to miss out on the promise the LORD made to us:   "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven..." (Matthew 10:32 ESV). My Prayer...Concerned and loving Father, I know the people in my life were put there by you. Please make me bolder and more respectful in my witness to others about Jesus and his sacrifice. Please give me the wisdom to know when to speak to them about the Gospel. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - Ecclesiastes 7:12
  Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.—Ecclesiastes 7:12Thoughts on Today's Verse...We can try to ensure our future through many things. Godly wisdom, however, is always a better investment than finances because it not only shelters us from our uncertain future but Godly wisdom can also keep us out of the unnecessary consequences of dumb and ungodly behaviors. Most of all, God's wisdom teaches us that there's no solid future without our lives centered on God. However, Godly "wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."My Prayer...O, Lord God, I want to be wise in your ways and innocent in the ways of evil. Forgive my foolish and sometimes rebellious behaviors. Lead me with your Spirit in the paths of truth, justice, and righteousness. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - 1 Peter 1:13
  Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.—1 Peter 1:13Thoughts on Today's Verse...Is there really such a thing as delayed gratification? Our culture sure doesn't seem to think so! We want all of our benefits, blessings, and delights now! In today's world, we don't seem to want to wait for anything! So if there were ever a verse that did NOT match the whims of our "modern" society, this would have to be it:   "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."   Notice that none of those phrases is found in a modern advertising slogan. All are, however, the sustaining actions of the great souls who have gone before us. We ignore them at our spiritual peril. We embrace them to follow in that great heritage of faith we see in Hebrews 11:1-40!My Prayer...Eternal God, please help me have the patience and faithfulness to let you fully form my character and develop the spiritual wisdom that my world lacks and that I so much need. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - 1 Thessalonians 1:3
  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.—1 Thessalonians 1:3Thoughts on Today's Verse...In a world that falls for facades and seems to give more credit for intentions than actions, don't you find it refreshing that Paul expects — and gives thanks — that the Thessalonian disciples' faith, hope, and love will naturally produce certain actions: Faith produces work. Love prompts labor. Hope inspires endurance. These new Christians were excelling in the enduring three virtues of discipleship (1 Corinthians 13:13), and these virtues were leading to their work, labor, and endurance!My Prayer...Mighty God of deliverance, I want to honor you with a life of observable faith, hope, and love. Please revive and refresh me with your Holy Spirit so that my life will be full of the actions that your grace and character inspire. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - Hebrews 13:7
  Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.—Hebrews 13:7Thoughts on Today's Verse...What makes a great Christian leader? The Holy Spirit emphasizes three things in this passage: They teach others the word of God. They live as great examples for others. They have observable faith. God puts each of us in unique positions of influence with our children, friends, coworkers, relatives, neighbors, and brothers and sisters from our church. What kind of spiritual leadership are we showing them?My Prayer...God of all grace and Father of all compassion, please empower me through the Holy Spirit to be a better Christian leader to the people you have put in my sphere of influence. Strengthen me as I seek to live a life worth imitating. I pray this in the authority of Jesus and his mighty name. Amen.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
• Today's Verse - Psalm 107:31
  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.—Psalm 107:31Thoughts on Today's Verse...I'm not sure I can fully comprehend "unfailing love." To always do the loving thing, whether discipline or reward, fun or pain, I'm not sure I can fully understand that kind of love. I know I am not yet able to love fully like Jesus. But I can tell you this: I am eternally grateful for Jesus, who fully demonstrated it. It should not be hard for us to give thanks for such a loving LORD and our Savior.My Prayer...Thank you, Almighty God, for revealing yourself as Abba Father! Thank you for loving me so much that you give me what I need, not what I want or deserve! Thank you for the many kindnesses you have lavished upon me and the loving deeds you have done for me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

• Quote for Jun. 5th, 2023
  "The unbelieving mind would not be convinced by any proof, and the worshiping heart needs none."—A. W. TozerⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for Jun. 4th, 2023
  "It is quite possible to perform very ordinary actions with so high an intention as to serve God therein better than in far more important things done with a less pure intention."—Jean N. GrouⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for Jun. 3rd, 2023
  "When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and confusion, don't pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a stronger man or woman of God."—Luis PalauⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for Jun. 2nd, 2023
  "It is a poor thing to strike our colours to God when the ship is going down under us; a poor thing to come to Him as a last resort, to offer up "our own" when it is no longer worth keeping. If God were proud, He would hardly have us on such terms."—C. S. LewisⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for Jun. 1st, 2023
  "Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame, if I cannot write better sermons now than I did seven years ago."—John WesleyⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for May. 31st, 2023
  "We must always speak of the efficacy of the ministry in such a manner that the entire praise of the work may be reserved for God alone."—John CalvinⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.
• Quote for May. 30th, 2023
  "God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher."—Teresa of AvilaⒸ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.