“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight (good judgment NLT, understanding NASB) – Proverbs 9:10 ESV
Here are a few quotes from authors who have inspired me to aspire to obedience!
#1 From The Master Plan of Evangelism, by Robert E. Coleman
I was discipled by Josh McDowell using this book in the summer of 1967 during the Jesus Revolution. These powerful concepts have shaped the trajectory of my ministry for 40+ years! Recently I have been discipling men using this book. Please consider buying several copies and walk one to three people through the contents of this exceptional book.
“Here finally is where we must all evaluate the contribution that our life and witness is making to the supreme purpose of Him who is the Savior of the World. Are those who have followed us to Christ now leading others to him and teaching them to make disciples like ourselves?…What really counts in the ultimate perpetuation of our work is the faithfulness with which our converts go and make leaders out of their converts, not simply more Christians….Our work is never finished until it has assured its continuation in the lives of those redeemed by the Evangel.” p. 105-106
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” – 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT
#2 From The Founders’ Bible, by general editor, David Barton. Please purchase and study this superior Bible. Look to pages 161-170 for the treatment about the four types of law.
While many in modern Christendom lump “the Law” all together, and thus generally label it as punitive, legalistic and restrictive, “the Law” has actually four instructive categories— The Ceremonial Law, The Moral Law, The Judicial Law, and the Social Compact Law. The application and understanding regarding the Moral and Judicial Law in particular are crucial in navigating and providing answers for the challenges we face in our society.
The Ceremonial Law pertains to temple regulations, sacrifices, dietary laws, … which no longer apply today, having been completely fulfilled and superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Moral Law identifies the timeless, unchangeable, and universal rules of right and wrong.
The Judicial Law stipulates the civil penalties attached to the violations of God-established rights and wrongs.
The Social Compact Law are the laws enacted by a society to provide order—they are laws that fall beneath the level of the Moral Law and violate none of its provisions. (p. 169).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105 NASB
#3 From the book, Wild Goose Chase, by Mark Batterson
“Satan’s wants to remind you of your greatest failures over and over again. Why? Because if you focus all your energy on past failures, you’ll have no energy left over to dream kingdom dreams or pursue kingdom purposes. Satan wants to turn you into a reactionary. Jesus came to recondition your spiritual reflexes with His grace. And when you’ve been reconditioned by His grace, you will become a revolutionary for His cause.” p. 97-98.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1 NLT
#4 From Letter to the American Church by Eric Metaxas
Metaxas gives one of the best treatments of the condition of the present day American Evangelical Church and the similarities of the German Church in the 1930’s. He is also one of the few voices in present day modern Christendom that clarifies the true definition and, therefore, proper expression of what faith in Christ is and what it looks like in action. Please consider reading this superior book.
“You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.” – James 2:22 NLT
“Part of what the German Church failed to see in 1932 and1933, for example—when there was still time to act—was that their small actions or inactions were setting the course for their future. When God speaks through prophets like Bonhoeffer, He makes clear what lie ahead and gives us a clear choice. But many German leaders thought Bonhoeffer a bit of a young hothead—brilliant intellectual to be sure but one who was overstating what was at stake. And so, as people always do—and always with good intentions—most of the German Church simply ignored what he said and drifted along as it had always done. They did not feel the urgency that Bonhoeffer obviously felt and boldly spoke about. When they might have recognized where their actions were leading and changed course, they did not. It takes courage to stand athwart history and shout, “Stop!” It takes courage to understand that you must not do what everyone else is doing. Most of us rarely rise to such courage.” p. 19-20.
“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.” – Proverbs 28:4 ESV
The comments from Metaxas above remind me of a quote from Dennis Prager:
“Good people must fight evil in their societies as early as possible. But they rarely do. Most good people are not fighters.” P. 432 Deuteronomy; God Blessings and Curses.
I think I am a fighter and I hope I am a good fighter— fighting to advance the Good News of the Kingdom of God!
“But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” – Ezekiel 3:8-9 NIV
#5 From Whisper, How to Hear the Voice of God, by Mark Batterson
Tolerance Above Truth
“The challenge is that we live in a culture where tolerance has been elevated above Truth. It’s considered wrong to say that anything is wrong, and I think that’s wrong. …To think everybody is right and nobody is wrong is as silly as pretending everyone wins and nobody loses. When Truth is sacrificed on the altar of tolerance, it might seem as though everyone wins, but in reality, everybody loses. God calls us to a higher standard than tolerance. It’s called Truth and it’s always coupled with grace.” p. 64
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
– Isaiah 5:20 KJV
Six woes are pronounced in Judah in this section of Isaiah. Inversion of God’s standards of right and wrong characterizes times of apostasy and precedes times of Judgment. This phenomenon is increasingly characteristic of Christendom today.
#6 From The Total Truth, by Nancy Pearcey
“Darwinism is supported more by atheistic philosophical assumptions than by scientific evidence. – Huston Smith” p. 153
“For the choir director: “Only fools say in their hearts, there is no God.” – Psalm 14:1 NLT
“What is in our genes’ interests is what seems “right”—morally right. – Robert Wright p. 207
“For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. – Acts 17:28 NLT
#7 From the book: The Islamization of America: The Islamic Strategies and The Christian Response, by Abdullah Al-Araby.
After 911, I did extensive research about the tenets of Islam. I had the privilege to talk with the author of this book, Abdullah, an Egyptian Christian who experienced the destructive transformation of his culture under the domination of Islam. I bought 300 of his books and gave them to supporters of our ministry and people of influence.
There is a codified doctrine in the Quran called Al-Takeyya, which means “prevention” or “guarding against,” that conveys the understanding that Muslims are permitted to lie to protect their religion.
“An example of Islamic deception is that Muslim activists always quote the passages of the Quran from the early part of Mohammed’s ministry while living in Mecca. These texts are peaceful and exemplify tolerance toward those who are not followers of Islam. All the while, they are fully aware that these passages were abrogated (cancelled and replaced) by passages that come after he migrated to Medina. The replacements reflect prejudice, intolerance, and endorse violence upon unbelievers.” p. 76
What You Can Do
#1 Please consider writing your comments from books that you are reading and send them out to others.
#2 Attempt to integrate these thoughts into your daily conversations with others.
“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” – Hebrews 12:28 NLT
In Christ,
Dale