Sermon Quotes: "A Cool Breeze of Mercy"

“One of the most remarkable inconsistencies in studies on Paul is that thousands of books exist that search every aspect of Paul’s thinking, while only a few seek to come to terms with his life of prayer. Indeed, most people’s understanding of Paul is limited to either Paul the missionary or Paul the theologian. But what is clear from Paul’s letters is that he was a pray-er before he was a missionary or a thinker. His life was devoted to prayer; and his relationship with his converts was primarily sustained by way of thanksgiving and prayer. To eliminate prayer from Paul’s personal piety would be to investigate the workings of a gas-combustion engine without recognizing the significance of oil. Paul did not simply believe in prayer or talk about prayer. He prayed, regularly and continuously, and urged the same on his churches (1 Thess 5:16-18).” Gordon Fee

“The conduct Paul has been advocating is impossible in human strength, but Paul’s prayer directs the readers to the source of the power that would alone enable them to live in this way.” Leon Morris

“In light of divine wrath and human sin, bare forgiveness would be an infinite treasure. But “peace” denotes full fellowship and well-being.” Robert Yarborough

“Call on the coming judge to be your present Savior.” J.I. Packer 

“One of the most frequent one-word descriptions of the Christian is that he is ‘called.’” Sinclair Ferguson

We do not make friends with God; God makes friends with us, bringing us to know him by making his love known to us.” J.I. Packer

“The bottom line for Paul in all such matters is that God is completely trustworthy…In the end everything depends on the single reality that God is absolutely faithful.” Gordon Fee

“It is profoundly satisfying to the believer that in the last resort what matters is not his feeble hold on God, but God’s strong grip on him.” Leon Morris

“Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you-it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you-it is Christ; it is not even faith, though that may be the instrument-it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope; look not to your faith, but to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.” Charles Spurgeon