So True

 "How often unsaved people, after sudden conviction have resolved to break from their evil doings, and serve the Lord, but only after a short season to return to their course of sin, like a washed sow to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:22), Where there has been no miracle of mercy wrought within the heart, no change of disposition, and where there is no dependence upon divine grace for needed strength, resolutions, however sincere and earnest, seldom produce any lasting effect. Unmortified lusts quickly break through the most solemn vows; where the fear of God does not possess the heart, fresh temptations soon arouse the dormant corruptions, and this gives Satan good opportunity to regain complete mastery over his victim...... Nothing short of the regenerating work of the Spirit can make any man a new creature in Christ Jesus.”

~ Arthur Pink 1886-1952

Encouragement For The Children of God

 

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Comfort For the Believer: God's Absolute and Total Sovereignty

"God’s supremacy over the works of His hands is vividly depicted in Scripture. Inanimate matter, irrational creatures, all perform their Maker’s bidding.

At His pleasure, the Red Sea divided and its waters stood up as walls (Ex. 14); the earth opened her mouth, and guilty rebels went down alive into the pit (Num. 14).

When He so ordered, the sun stood still (Joshua 10:13); and on another occasion went backward ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:8).

To exemplify His supremacy, He made ravens carry food to Elijah (1 Kings 17); iron to float on the waters (2 Kings 6:5); lions to be tame when Daniel was cast into their den (Daniel 6:16-23); fire to burn not when three Hebrews were flung into its flames (Daniel 3:23). Thus, "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places" (Ps. 135:6).

Here then is a sure resting-place for the heart. Our lives are neither the product of blind fate nor the result of capricious chance. Every detail of them was ordained from all eternity and is now ordered by the living, reigning God. Not a hair of our heads can be touched without His permission. "A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the LORD directeth his steps" (Prov. 16:9).

What assurance, what strength, what comfort this should give the real Christian! "My times are in thy hand" (Ps. 31:15)."

~ Arthur Pink, "The Supremacy of God"

The Distinction Between Knowing About the Lord and Knowing Him

 "There is a very real distinction between knowing about the Lord and in knowing the Lord Himself. As one can see the one consists merely of information concerning Him and the other is a personal and a saving acquaintance with Him. In the Scriptures we are told that at first “many of the Samaritans...believed” in Christ because of the testimony borne to Him by the woman at the well; but later, when they came into His presence and listened to His teaching, they declared, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:39, 42)."

~Arthur Pink, Exposition of John's First Epistle "

The Faithful Are Always In The Minority

 "Faithful people have always been in a marked minority. "Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!" (Psalm 12:1), cried David. Note how those two characteristics are conjoined, for piety and faithfulness are inseparable. Compare "good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:23). So, too, Solomon exclaimed, "A faithful man—who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). Why is this? Because it is the part of fallen human nature to take the line of least resistance and choose the path easiest to the flesh."

~ Arthur Pink, “Studies in the Scriptures- June 1939”

I am reminded of these passages:

Mat 7:13  "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14  "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. 

Rom 11:2  God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?  Rom 11:3  "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED THY PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN THINE ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."  Rom 11:4  But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."  Rom 11:5  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 

2Ti 3:12  And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.