Sermons & Devotionals by Classic Christian Writings

Holiness can never be separated from revival. If some kind of spiritual experience in an individual, or among a community, has the label "revival" pinned to it, we should always look at the lives of the Christians and the new converts. Are they a holy people who fear only God and sin, and who allow ... Read More

Edited from a message delivered at the "Heart-Cry for Revival" Conference near Asheville, North Carolina, April 9-12, 2002. It is crucial that we have the kind of relationship to God that when He speaks we know it is God, and we know what He is saying, and we make the major adjustments in our life t... Read More

Guard early against the temptations and dangers which might one day weaken you. Few continue as they have begun; fewer advance in virtue. There are, even in the most holy retreats, things that are almost certain means of enfeebling the soul, and it is a great misfortune, either not to know them, or ... Read More

Prayer engages the enemy in spiritual battle. By prayer we invade his vast domain of sin and break sin’s dominance and power. Persevering, unyielding, day and night urgency in prayer for the Holy Spirit’s outpouring will bring showers of converting grace, and will make the altars of our God again bl... Read More

It is of no use for us to criticize, condemn and point the finger of scorn at one another. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Some of us have more light than others. Some have sinned in one way and some in other ways, but ALL have sinned. Daniel confessed over and over, "WE have ... Read More

"Far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). Paul speaks here of his only glory being that in Christ he has in very deed been crucified to the world and entirely delivered from it... Read More

Daniel Nash pastored a small church in the backwoods of New York for six years, and traveled with and prayed for a traveling evangelist for seven more years until his death. As far as we know, he never ministered outside the region of upstate New York during days when much of it was frontier. His to... Read More

In a booklet of excerpts from David Brainerd’s Journal and Diary, Andrew Murray writes the following forward: "God has no more precious gift to give to a church or an age than a man who lives as the embodiment of His will, and inspires those around him with the faith of what grace can do. We speak o... Read More

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the... Read More

Edited from a message delivered at the "Heart-Cry for Revival" Conference near Asheville, North Carolina, April 9-12, 2002. One of the many Psalms we could turn to as an example of desperate, prevailing prayer is Psalm 143. I want you to notice as we read the first six verses, the intensity and the ... Read More

Edited from a message delivered at the "Heart-Cry for Revival" Conference near Asheville, North Carolina, April 2002 Background Scripture reading: Jeremiah 5:20-31; 6:13. Text: 1 John 4:1 The first time I attempted to write a book on the subject of revival, the title was simply "Revival." I declared... Read More

If discipline is weak, even the best equipped army is liable to crack when faced with hardship or adversity. Of course discipline is an unpopular word in a society where authority is being attacked and undermined. Here the attitude of the Christian soldier must stand out in sharpest contrast to the ... Read More

The Apostle Paul was addressing Christians when he said, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God" (Eph. 4:30). The context of this verse reveals ways in which we can grieve Him (verses 29-31). Let us consider some of these. "Corrupt communication" covers a wide category of conversation. Exaggerating, gos... Read More

This advice was given to young Christians by a saintly minister of Scotland greatly used of God in a former generation – Robert Murray McCheyne. No person can be a child of God without living in secret prayer, and no community of Christians can be in a lively condition without unity in prayer. In Da... Read More

Some of us have had a fresh fire of inspiration for prayer and fasting kindled in our hearts as we have taken part in group efforts--church times of fasting and prayer, or PrayUSA '98, etc. Let's not let the fire burn out! Keep active in group prayer if possible. A log that rolls out of a rousing fi... Read More

“The servant of the Lord must not strive (2 Tim. 2:24). In seeking to lead a holy, blameless life, I have been helped at one point by the advice of two men and the example of two others. Commissioner Dowdle Some years ago in Boston I attended an “all-night of prayer.” It was a blessed time and score... Read More

"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36). This verse cuts the cords of self-sufficiency, and takes away any ground for self-consciousness, or sense of superiority. We have nothing that we have not received. How easy it is for us to carry ... Read More

In the twelfth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we have the record of a most remarkable prayer, remarkable because of what was asked for and remarkable because of the results of the asking. King Herod had killed James, the brother of John. This greatly “pleased the Jews”; so he proceeded further ... Read More

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Or as Weymouth translates it, “The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence.” Prayer may be empty words, with no more power than empty shells. Firing empty shells! That is what many professed pra... Read More

All of us have been given a little chunk out of eternity called “time,” and all of us will someday give an account to God for how we have used it. The Bible says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). We are to... Read More