Sermons & Devotionals by John Gifford Bellett

(extract from a Letter to James McAllister) J. G. Bellett June 7, 1858. When I call to mind some of the early facts connected with the history of "Brethren" (as for distinction I will call them) I am impressed with a sense of there having been at that time a very independent and original teaching of... Read More

"Christ Jesus: who, being in THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7). In His life, Christ hides His glory "the form of God," under the "form of a... Read More

The apostle addresses his brethren in Christ as "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Heb. 3: 1). This calling, in another scripture, is styled "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 14). And again, it is spoken of as the calling of the Father of glory (Eph. 1: 17, 18). In those who are ... Read More

The thought of the nearness of the glory should be deeply cherished by the heart. And we need be at no effort to persuade ourselves of it. It is taught us richly in the Word. The place of the glory is near us, and the path by which it can either come to us or we go to it is short and simple, and the... Read More

Discipline preserves us for future blessing, but it does not exalt us in this present world. Connected with this thought, let us read this parable. This cedar is Judah, or the house of David; the two eagles are the king of Babylon and the king of Egypt. This cedar had incurred the discipline of the ... Read More

How beautifully the incidents recorded in the Evangelists exhibit the workings of nature and of grace. They are short and familiar, but full of matter for the meditation of our hearts that we may be either warned or comforted. Uneasiness of conscience was goading the rich young ruler of Luke 18 to s... Read More

The history of the two tribes and a half has its own instruction for us, and illustrates a peculiar character of mind and walk among the saints of God. They do not stand exactly with Lot of the days of Abraham, though in some respects they remind us of him. It is wonderful what a variety of mind, ch... Read More

In the midst of the fears and warnings of the Spirit concerning the churches, we may observe that He is alarmed for them on several and different grounds, as expressed in different epistles and by different apostles. 1. He specially warns them respecting Judaizing, i.e., religiousness, or the observ... Read More

1. We may so walk as to have ourselves in the presence of or in company with the Lord. 2. We may act so as to bring our fellow-saints or fellow-sinners into His presence or into His company. 3. We may be living so as to be keeping ourselves before our fellows and companions. The first is the way of ... Read More