Sermons & Devotionals by Daily Portions

"And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."--Ephesians 2:1 Death in sin is of course a figure, and must be interpreted as such; for moral death is its meaning, and by moral death we understand the utter absence of everything holy, heavenly, spiritual, and divine--the entire lac... Read More

"And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."--Ephesians 2:6 There is a distinction between being quickened together with Christ and being raised up together with him. Is not this true in the experience of God's people? To be quickened into divine life... Read More

"A wise man fears the Lord, and departs from evil--but the fool rages, and is confident."--Proverbs 14:16 I believe no true Christian can be satisfied with a notional religion--though a miserable backslider, and driven into the fields to feed swine, he cannot feed on their husks, but sighs after the... Read More

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." –John 12:32 Wherever Jesus is graciously and experimentally manifested to the soul, and made known by any sweet revelation of his glorious Person, atoning blood, and finished work; a secret yet sacred power is put forth, whereby w... Read More

"The king's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in clothing of needlework."--Psalm 45:13-14 This is a beautiful description of the bridal garments of the Church as the queen. The gold was to be wrought into her clothing, the clothing t... Read More

"Who works all things after the counsel of his own will."--Ephesians 1:11 By these words the apostle brings before our eyes God's omnipotent power as carrying into effectual performance the counsel of his own will towards the objects of his distinguishing favor. An especial blessing is couched in th... Read More

"Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? Shall your loving-kindness be declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in destruction?" –Psalm 88:10-11 This is not the language of a soul dead in trespasses and sins, but it is the breathing of a living soul struggling and ... Read More

"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts." –Proverbs 31:6 The wise mother of king Lemuel gave her son gracious directions when she spoke these words. It is when we begin to feel the misery into which we have been cast by sin, and thus become re... Read More

"That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."--Hebrews 6:12 Patience is necessary in order to prove the genuineness and reality of faith. The Lord generally--I may say invariably--does not accomplish his purposes at once. He usually--I might s... Read More

"To be carnally-minded is death; but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace."--Romans 8:6 Just in proportion as our heart and affections are engaged on heavenly objects, shall we feel a sweet savor of heaven resting upon our spirit; and as we can only give back what we receive, every going forth... Read More

"I cried unto you; save me, and I shall keep your testimonies."--Psalm 119:146 If you know anything for yourself inwardly and experimentally of the evils of your heart, the power of sin, the strength of temptation, the subtlety of your unwearied foe, and that daily conflict between nature and grace,... Read More

"Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."--John 8:31, 32 The truth is not known at first in all its sweetness, liberty, and power. We have "to continue in the wor... Read More

"My grace is sufficient for you--for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 How mysterious are God's dealings! That such a highly-favored man as Paul should come down from the "third heaven" to the very gates of hell (that is not too strong an expression, for "the messenger of ... Read More

"O you afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted." Isaiah 54:11 The Lord here compares his suffering Church to a ship at sea, laboring in a heavy storm, driven out of her course by contrary winds, as was Paul's case in the Adriatic, and doubtful whether she will ever reach the harbor; as the... Read More

"Behold, I will lay your stones with fair colors." Isaiah 54:11 By these "stones," which the Lord has promised to "lay with fair colors," I think we may understand the blessed truths of the gospel which are laid into the soul by the hand of God. The fair colors are deeply ingrained and embedded in t... Read More

"I will lay your foundations with sapphires." Isaiah 54:11 Before we can stand firmly in the things of God we must have a good foundation, something solid for our faith, our hope, our love, our all, to rest upon. This God promises to lay for his afflicted Zion--"I will lay your foundations with sapp... Read More

"And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your walls of pleasant stones." Isaiah 54:12 Upon Zion in her time-state "the Sun of righteousness" does not shine in all his brightness; the "windows of agate," while she is in the flesh, temper his rays. Her prospects, ... Read More

"Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22 Until in soul feeling, we are at "the ends of the earth," we have no eyes to see, no ears to hear, no hearts to feel what a glorious Mediator there is at the right hand of the Father. And the m... Read More

"But we see Jesus." Hebrews 2:9 Did your eyes ever see him? Do look into conscience--did your eyes ever see Jesus? I do not mean your natural, your bodily eyes; but the eye of faith, the eye of the soul. I will tell you what you have felt, if you ever saw Jesus. Your heart was softened and melted, y... Read More

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5 That he is God, is the very foundation of his salvation; for it is his eternal Godhead that gives virtue, efficacy, and dignity to all that as man he did and suffered for his chosen people. If he were n... Read More