The less of the glory of God we have, the more showmanship we need inside. -Leonard Ravenhill

How can you possibly become a Joseph without experiencing agonizing rejection and profound loneliness? -Bob Sorge

"More than a messenger, more than a teacher, more than anything else, I want to be a friend to the Lord.[. . .] A friend of the Bridegroom who delights to hear the voice of Jesus—not as an opportunity to share what I've heard, but as an opportunity to treasure it."

—David Sliker

"God delights in mercy. He gets overwhelmed with delight at the very thought of forgiving you. Let that sink in. When you come to Him in honest, sincere repentance, His reaction is, 'I get to forgive My child. I get to hold him. I get to wash him in My love.'" —Stephen Beauchamp

Paul won’t give the Devil credit anywhere. He never once says, “I’m in prison because of the Devil or Caesar.” He says, “I’m the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 3:1) -Leonard Ravenhill

“For they loved human praise more than praise from God.” John 12.43

Leave the fame to God. Run for your life from making a name for yourself. That tower always falls on the one that builds it. It’s just a matter of time.

There’s only one name worthy to be praised. Live for that one. If people hand you a crown, throw it instantly at His feet. -Beth Moore

As the crucifixion of Christ demonstrated the mercy of God to His enemies, so also will the consummate last days crucifixion of His Church. -Joel Richardson

He will never talk well and with real success to men for God who has not learned well how to talk to God for men. -EM Bounds

"Sunday morning church attendance shows how popular the church is; Sunday night shows how popular the preacher is; and attendance at prayer meetings shows how popular God is." -Leonard Ravenhill

God never prunes back your roots. He’ll cut back your branches repeatedly, but roots are meant to only grow longer and larger. -Bob Sorge

 “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:22, NKJV Jesus was essentially saying that His standard of forgiveness was seventy times higher than what Peter was thinking. He was teaching a beloved young leader how to keep his heart free. -DA Kisnter

Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it. —A.W. Tozer

Why in God’s Name do you expect to be accepted everywhere? How is it the world couldn’t get on with the holiest man that ever lived and yet it can get on with you and me? Have we compromised? Have we no spiritual stature? Have we no righteousness that reflects on their corruption? -Leonard Ravenhill

Anything you love more than Jesus Christ is an idol. I don’t care what it is. -Leonard Ravenhill

Preaching is not a profession, God help us. Preaching is an obsession and a passion. -Leonard Ravenhill

Christ is the second Adam who will do what the first Adam failed to do—take dominion over the earth. (1 Corinthians 15:16-25) -Joel Richardson

When it comes to walking and moving with the Holy Spirit, stay low and go slow. -Bob Sorge

Paul corrected and even mocked those who had embraced a false realized eschatology in his day: "You're already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you." (1 Corinthians 4:8). -Joel Richardson

Prayer is the most difficult task in the world. -Leonard Ravenhill

Make peace with the things God will intentionally and graciously never give you. Psalm 131:2 -Bob Sorge

The more deeply you know Him, the more you’re looking for ways to be even more undignified than this. Revelation 4:10 - Bob Sorge

"Being a person of faith doesn’t mean you handle everything perfectly. It means your confidence is in the Perfect One."

—Bob Sorge

The harp in David’s hand was mightier than the spear in Saul’s hand. -DA Kistner

Your secret place reflects just how personal your relationship with Jesus really is. -Bob Sorge

Leave out the cross and you have killed the religion of Jesus. Atonement by the blood of Jesus is not an arm of Christian truth; it is the heart of it. - Spurgeon

Only if your God can outrage you and make you struggle will you know that you worship the real God and not a figment of your imagination -Timothy Keller

When we assess the origins of the New Testament concept of the return of Jesus, "The Blessing of Moses" (Deuteronomy 33) and “The Seed Prophecy” (Genesis 3:15) stand beside one another as the two most foundational and important texts in the whole Bible. -Joel Richardson

When work is your identity, if you are successful it goes to your head, if you are a failure it goes to your heart. -Timothy Keller

"The art of worship has been lost and in its place has come the strange and foreign thing called 'program'" AW Tozer

Whereas the Old Testament inextricably links the coming of the Messiah to “the second exodus,” the New Testament more specifically recognizes the return of Jesus as the second exodus. This theme actually pervades the entire biblical narrative. -Joel Richardson

“I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world, and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.” ― Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

My only joys therefore are that when God has given me a work to do, I have not refused it." - C.T. Studd

There are FAR more ancient sources for the New Testament than any other ancient writings. Because of this, they have been cross checked & shown to be 99.5% accurate. Of the 0.5% in doubt (about 400 words) no doctrinal or historical truth is in question. -Theologetics.org

He was the first man to conquer death. Jesus is the prototype, and the first member of a new order of people who triumph over death. He is the pledge, or guarantee, that His people will receive a resurrected body like His (Phillipians. 3:21). -Mike Bickle

Sermons aren't just to make truth clear to the mind-but to make it real to the heart. Change happens by feeding the imagination new beauties. - Timothy Keller

God’s salvation doesn't come in response to a changed life. A changed life naturally comes in response to salvation. -Timothy Keller

Since you are tempted without ceasing, pray without ceasing. - Spurgeon

I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church - Spurgeon

“We can’t safeguard our marriages through more through more date nights, more vacations, or more counseling. Those things are not bad, but we have to see that there is more going on. Sincere and concentrated prayer will do infinitely more." -Francis Chan

Every god that didn’t make the heavens will perish from under the heavens. Jeremiah 10:11

"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies."

- St. John Chysostom, c. 349-407 AD.

"There is no use in talking as if forgiveness were easy...For we find that the work of forgiveness has to be done over and over again." -CS Lewis

Through Jesus we don’t need perfect righteousness, just repentant helplessness, to access the presence of God. -Timothy Keller

Jesus: "My Father is working until now, and I am working.” John 5:17

Though God rested after creation, with the fall of humanity into sin, God and his Son have been working every day, following a plan that would result in a redeemed and beautiful bride of Christ. -John Piper

"It’s impossible to be a disciple or a follower of someone and not end up like that person." -Francis Chan

You were made to admire Jesus Christ the Son of God. (2 Thessalonians 1:12; Colossians 1:16) -John Piper

Psalm 115:17, “The dead do not praise the LORD.”

If you don’t praise the Lord, check to see if you’re dead. -Bob Sorge

God never apologizes for the troubles He purposes and allows in our lives—because He knows their redemptive potential. -Bob Sorge

Nothing provokes the devil like the cross. -Spurgeon

Jesus wasn't just a nice guy who did good in the world. You don't crucify nice guys. You crucify threats. - Timothy Keller

Farmers don’t hold a funeral over planted seed. They see the loss as an investment. -Bob Sorge

Pray and pray a lot. Especially when you don't feel like praying at all. -Timothy Keller

Jesus, treat the soil of my heart so that no weeds of unbelief can grow in it, but only Your seeds of faith. -Bob Sorge

The word “disciple” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word “mathetes,” which means “student.”

Discipleship infers a teachable attitude so that we keep learning new things about Jesus and thereby continue growing in our faith. -DA Kistner

Mercy points you in the right direction, grace empowers you to move toward the prize. -Bob Sorge

A Series of Videos on the Messiah in the Old Testament by Joel Richardson https://vimeopro.com/hillcrestpv/joelrichardson

Preachers should memorize their content so well that while preaching you are not wondering what to say, but rather how to say it well. -Timothy Keller

“Jesus didn't speak of hell so that we could study, debate and write books about it. He gave us these passages so that we would live holy lives." -Francis Chan

The power of prayer is found, not in convincing God of my agenda, but in waiting upon Him to hear His agenda. -Bob Sorge

At the cross, both the law of God and the love of God were fulfilled and satisfied completely. This truth changes you continually. -Timothy Keller

Psalm. 48:1, no one person can offer the kind of great praise God deserves.

This is why we gather, individual praise does not suffice. -Bob Sorge

"The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.” Psalm 65:25

The glories of God’s world are defanged, not destroyed. -John Piper

When you’re on the highway of holiness, the journey is holy. When the journey is holy, the story is holy. When the story is holy, the script is holy. How it unfolds and ends is very important to God. -Bob Sorge

If you need something in addition to God to make you happy, that is your true King. - Timothy Keller

"To desire revival and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another. " AW Tozer

When Jesus made statements such as “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51), He was 100% absolutely, unequivocally identifying Himself as both Messiah and as Yahweh God Almighty. -Joel Richardson

Show me the Christian who doesn’t think church attendance is necessary, and I’ll show you an anemic, cold Christian with the pall of death on his countenance. -Bob Sorge

"Let us make war, not with other people, but with our own unbelief." ~JohnPiper

“God has sought us. He is still seeking us. We must seek him. Indeed, God’s chief quarrel with man is that he does not seek.”

— John Stott

Justice // Bob Sorge // Sermon Highlight

"We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others." -CS Lewis

“Any Christian who won’t forsake a besetting sin will eventually develop his own doctrine to excuse himself.” -David Wilkerson

When I forget the gospel I become dependent on the smiles and evaluation of others. - Timothy Keller

To become a friend of the Bridegroom, as John the Baptist was, requires a stint in the wilderness. -Bob Sorge

Prayer is the task and duty of each recurring day -- daily prayer for daily needs. -EM Bounds

Preach the Gospel. Die. Be forgotten. ~Count Zinzendorf

His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. Habakkuk 3:4-6

Jesus will stay in heaven until He returns, judges everyone, establishes His kingdom, and renews the world. This is what God has been declaring through His prophets from the beginning. If we repent of our sins and turn to God, we'll be welcomed into that kingdom. (Acts 3:19-21) -Joel Richardson

“…the woman (Eve) was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” — Matthew Henry (Via DA Kistner)

Psalm 2 informs us that the Messiah will rule on Mount Zion and His authority will extend to the ends of the earth. On both counts, the Lord was speaking the truth. -Joel Richardson

There is nothing more beautiful than the heart of Jesus, filled with compassion, tenderness, mercy, and kindness towards his enemies. He died to enter into deep friendship and brotherhood with those who despised Him. -David Sliker

My message on the Cross of Christ in the context of the Old Testament:
Notes
MP3

At once, the Cross revealed what kind of world we have and what kind of God we have. -Philip Yancey

2019 Summer

Love is never primarily defined in the Bible as a feeling. At its foundation love is at least a commitment and a promise. -Timothy Keller

Jesus’s promise to send the Spirit as “comforter” and “advocate” assumes our lives will be filled with grief and accusation. -Matt Smethurst

With God, righteousness precedes justice (Psalm 97:2). Justice must be built upon righteousness to be true. For example, the world makes certain sins a human right, and the censure of those sins a violation of justice. But it’s not true justice.  -Bob Sorge

“The best advice I can give you: Look unto Jesus, beholding His beauty in the written Word.” —John Newton

"In the sky God has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy." Psalm 19:4

 The brightness of the sun is singing the joy of the bride groom. -John Piper

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:10-11

// Obedience = joy Full obedience = full joy -Dalton Thomas

"Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror." -CS Lewis

The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. -EM Bounds

God is *not tender* and accepting if people say, "No!" to Him and go their own way. He is jealous, zealous, passionate, and very convinced of the righteousness of His ways and the destructiveness of ours. Therefore, He is fully committed to our deliverance and salvation. -David Sliker

As Prince of Peace, Jesus is able to do whatever it takes to bring peace to His kingdom on earth. - Bob Sorge

The quiet words of the wise are more meaningful than the shouts and articles and podcasts and TV shows of fools. -David Brymer

Many Christians pray for a 'spiritual climate change,' to produce revival. The atmospheric changes that lead to revival however, nearly universally, are persecution, pain, and suffering. Brokenness leads to repentance, which produces revival. -Joel Richardson

Only as the sons are emptied of their own kingdom-building inclinations will they be able to sustain loyalty toward the spiritual fathers. -Bob Sorge

Sometimes we confuse our agenda we have for God with God himself. The best way to not speak for Him and let Him speak to you through the scriptures -Tim Keller

"Christians ought to be comforters, with kind words on their lips, and sympathy in their hearts; they should carry sunshine wherever they go, and diffuse happiness around them." - CH Spurgeon

Christian unity should not hinge on man-made doctrinal categories: (Calvinism, complementarianism, pretribulationalism, etc.) but on doctrines central to the Bible: (“He will be ... the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David —Luke 1:32)-Joel Richardson

As we grow in love for Jesus, we will simultaneously grow in love for people. Love for people shows how much we love God. -Bob Sorge

Jesus is:

The light to come and the glory of the LORD who will rise upon us. (Isaiah 60:1–2) The sun of righteousness who will rise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2) The Sunrise from on high who will visit us (Luke 1:78) He who will come from Teman, from Mount Paran. His glory will cover the heavens and his praise will fill the earth. His splendor will shine forth like the sunrise (Habakkuk 3:3–4)

-Joel Richardson

One of the clear messages of the book of Job: Never assume that blessing means God's favor, or that calamity means God's disapproval. The cross is the greatest example of that truth. The lonely. tortured figure on the tree was actually the most favored one on the hill. -Bob Sorge

Pray intensely for what you don't have, but at the same time exercise careful stewardship over what you do have. -Bob Sorge

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his numskull friends. -Tim Keller

The mission of the Messiah:

To scatter the proud, To bring down rulers from their thrones, To exalt the humble, To fill the hungry with good things, To send away the rich empty-handed, To help Israel His servant. (Luke 1:51-54) -Joel Richardson

It's one thing to dabble endlessly in things that ultimately do not matter; then I remember that I will have to answer to Jesus for my time, my words, my money, and my thoughts. I want more grace to repent my way into Jesus becoming my singular obsession. -David Sliker

The way to rise in the kingdom is to sink in ourselves. – Spurgeon

The way we view the not yet future will inevitably impact the way we respond in the here and now. -Tim Keller

The Resurrection is proof that the world will not stay in ashes, but rise to brilliance. It is not just our hope, it is our assurance. -Tim Keller

“If we don’t stare at God, we’ll spend our time staring at lesser things. Namely, ourselves.” -Francis Chan

Sheep Among Wolves v2

Sheep Among Wolves Volume II (Official Feature Film) from FAI on Vimeo.

Secularism and Religion are both all about your personal performance. The Gospel is the performance of another applied to you. Religion says earn your life. Secular society says create your life. Jesus exchanged his life for ours.-Tim Keller

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing so gentle as real strength." -DeSales

10 years with Stephanie Kay

‘Prophetic’ expresses God’s heart in perceiving things as He sees them, with jealousy for His honor in the matter. - Art Katz

Charismatics and Pentecostals: the Baptists have things that you need. Baptists: The Pentecostals and charismatics have things that you need. Messianic Jews: The main stream Gentile churches have things that you need.
Etc. etc. Celebrate and honor the whole body of Christ. Liberal, dead, apostate churches: FYI, no one needs you. -Joel Richardson

Prayer is arguably the most objective measurement of our dependence on God. The things you pray about are the things you trust God to handle. The things you neglect to pray about are the things you trust you can handle on your own. -Matt Smethurst

"Jesus did not come to improve our humanity and make us more perfect versions of man. Jesus came to make us in the image of God." -Samuel Whitefield

The transfiguration: A preview of His coming:

...we made known to you the power and COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, [because] we were eyewitnesses of His majesty... when He received honor and glory from God the Father... when we were with Him on the holy mountain. —2 Peter 1:16–18

-Joel Richardson

“But encourage one another *daily*, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” — Hebrews 3:13

One of the few Scriptures in which we're exhorted to do something *every day*. Discouragement loses its power as we encourage others. -DA Kistner

Speaking biblically, the wilderness/desert is the place of loneliness, desolation and barrenness, where one learns how to rely on God alone; It is the place of encounter with God—even if that encounter also often involves wrestling with the Devil. -Joel Richardson

Man’s haste is often folly, but God’s apparent delays are ever wise - Spurgeon

The greatest nightmare of the approval addict is rejection; of the power addict, humiliation; of the comfort addict, suffering; and of the control addict, uncertainty. -Timothy Keller

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still...” — Proverbs 9:9

The defining trait of a wise man is his teachability. Though he’s already wise, he knows there’s far more wisdom yet to obtain. He enjoys listening to and receiving from others in order to grow even more. -DA Kistner

The weakest faith in Jesus will be far more liberating than the strongest faith in anything else. -Timothy Keller

“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead." - CS Lewis

Many today find the idea of an angry God to be distasteful, even though modern people agree widely that to be passionate for justice does entail rightful anger. -Timothy Keller

He was the first man to conquer death. Jesus is the prototype, and the first member of a new order of people who triumph over death. He is the pledge, or guarantee, that His people will receive a resurrected body like His (Philippians 3:21). -Mike Bickle

God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible– what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves. -AW Tozer

"My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Psalm 3:11-12 We instinctively draw the opposite conclusion: Disapproval not delight. That’s why it’s in the Bible.

-John Piper

Nothing puts your own pain in perspective like meditating on the cross - Corey Russell

“...just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith...” (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV)

It’s not enough to only receive Jesus, Paul tells us. We must continue to live in Him so that our faith matures.

-D.A. Kistner

God's personal vindication is intertwined with Israel's vindication. Their vindication precedes His:

"...the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free" (Deut 32:36)

-Joel Richardson

“...those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence...” — Malachi 3:16 Not so He remembers, but so we remember. He wants to show us one day how meaningful our conversations were to Him. -D.A. Kistner

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him...” — 1 Peter 1:8 One day we will see His smile with our eyes and feel the embrace of His arms around our neck. But not yet. We must wait just a little while longer. -D.A. Kistner

Sound doctrine teaches obedience and allegiance to Jesus; thus, it requires endurance. To turn the ear away means that people will no longer desire to hear what God intended in various passages (2 Timothy 4:3-5). -Mike Bickle

Just as Jesus expected figs from a fig tree that was not in fruit bearing season, Jesus has the right to expect the impossible from us. ~ Bill Johnson

Christianity is the only worldview where redemption precedes righteousness. -Ravi Zacharias

"The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.” Psalm 129:3-4 He could have cut these persecuting cords before they plowed on my back. He didn’t. So these are scars of wisdom and love. -John Piper

Paul highlighted two prophetic signs to indicate the time of Jesus’ coming—a falling away from the faith combined with the revealing of the Antichrist on the world stage (2 Thessalonians 2:3). -Mike Bickle

Joseph, if you’ll respond properly to the rejection of your brothers, you’ll become an equitable leader who isn’t swayed by the faces of people. -Bob Sorge

"Rehoboam did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. 2 Chronicles 12:14 From Adam and Eve, through every earthly sovereign and serf, to the final antichrist, this is the root of all evil and sorrow—“he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.”

-John Piper

I’ve never heard faith that was nervous. ~ Lester Sumrall

My teaching on martyrdom and the Glory of Jesus is available.  Here is the audio. Here are the notes.

God has invested too much in your education and preparation to cast you off now. His inheritance is in you, He’s not going to forsake you now. He’s invested. Psalm 94:14 -Bob Sorge

We’re not to be taken out of this world into heaven but heaven is going to come down at the end of time to renew this world. -Timothy Keller

The first Adam disobeyed at his tree and to his progeny brought death. 
The Last Adam obeyed at his Tree and will resurrect his progeny to eternal life.
Hallelujah for the blood!

We must not reduce God’s eternal rewards to what we can easily imagine. -Mike Bickle

If we are not glad that Christ is Christ-exalting, we will not be glad at his coming. "He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.” (2 Thessalonians 1:10) -John Piper

Grace is the power of God that enables us to do what only Jesus can do. ~ Bill Johnson

MORTEM // Bob Sorge

I will be teaching at the Greater Peoria House of Prayer - GPHOP this Friday night (8/2) on the witness of martyrdom and the Glory of Christ -david

God does not love us because we are serviceable; He loves us simply because He loves us. This is the only kind of love we can ever be secure in, of course, since it is the only kind of love we cannot possibly lose. This is grace. -Timothy Keller

I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? - C.S. Lewis

One of Satan's most successful tricks these days is convincing some who have a passion for justice to take it even further and actually seek vengeance. But "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). -Joel Richardson

Just as Jesus healed the ear of Malchus that Peter had maimed, He still heals the wound we suffer from the zealous leaders in the body of Christ. -Bob Sorge

Show me a person who consistently speaks positively and refuses to speak badly about others, and I’ll show you a person who is secure in their relationship with God, without needing to prove their worth to others. -Scott Volk

If you pray in order to make life work, then once life is working you will no longer feel the need to pray. Rather, make prayer an end in itself. -Bob Sorge

"Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:25. In telling this story, the answer that the inspired writer, Luke, expects is not: An ordinary man like us, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. -John Piper

"The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:21
Humanity is not renewed as a part of a renewed cosmos. It’s the reverse. The cosmos is renewed in response to the beauty of the Bride. -John Piper

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us. -Timothy Keller

As there is a great variety of gifts, ministries, and activities in the Body of Christ in this age, so there will be great diversity in them in the age to come (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11, 18-19). -Mike Bickle

I want my strongest anointing to be not when I’m standing on a platform but when I’m sitting in the secret place, praying the word. - Bob Sorge