How long had I been here in this closet?
Days or just hours? Surely it seemed days since at my own request I had heard
my wife lock that closet door from the outside! What would she think about me
shutting myself away for so long? Had it really been days or just hours? Was I
really getting anywhere with God? Would God answer? Would God satisfy that
hunger of my soul or would I have to admit defeat again as so often I had done?
No! I'd stay right here on my knees until God answered, or I would die in the
attempt! Hadn't God's word said, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength, they shall mount up-up-UP-with wings-with wings as eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; they shall ---."
Had my wife opened the door? No, it was
still closed! But the light, where was the light coming from? It was then that
I began to realize that the light that was filling my prayer closet was God's
glory! It wasn't the closet door that had opened, but rather the door of heaven
instead!
The presence of God was so real and
powerful that I felt I would die right there on my knees. It seemed that if God
came any closer, I could not stand it! Yet I wanted it and was determined to
have it. Little wonder that Paul under like circumstance, "fell to the
earth". Acts 9:4. No wonder John, "fell at his feet as dead".
Rev. 1:17.
Was this the answer? Was God going to
speak to me? Would God at last, after these many years, satisfy my longing
heart? I seemed to lose consciousness of everything but the mighty presence of
God. I trembled, I tried to see Him and then was afraid that I would, for
suddenly I realized that should I see Him, I would die. Just His glorious
presence was enough!
Then like a whirlwind, I heard His voice.
It was God! He was speaking to me! This was the glorious answer that I had
sought so diligently and for which I had waited so long. Yes, this was what I
had been waiting for since my conversion at the age of twenty-three. Yes, this
was what my longing soul had cried for ever since God called me to the
ministry.
That call to the ministry had come with
such force and was so definite that nothing could ever make me doubt it. From
the time of my conversion God had made it so real to me even though my past
life had not been spent in such a way as to provide any preparation for this
work.
From the time of my conversion, I realized
my need of much study if ever I were to fulfill the call of God upon my life.
Therefore, I spent many hours reading the Bible, and seeking to understand its
message and meaning. To my simple untaught soul, God seemed to mean exactly
what he said -- and seemed to say it directly to me through His Word --
"As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. HEAL THE
SICK, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." Matt. 10:7. All this seemed included in a call to
the ministry, yet I DID NOT SEE IT BEING DONE! I was myself powerless to carry
out these commands of Christ. Yet I knew that it COULD BE DONE, for Christ
would not give a command which could not be carried out!
Before my conversion, I knew so little
about God and his word, that I could not even quote John 3:16, nor name the
four gospels. In the Methodist church where I was converted and of which I
became a member, I was not taught to expect to be baptized with the Holy Ghost
as the first disciples were on the day of Pentecost, nor to expect the signs
mentioned in Mark 16:17,18 to follow me as a believer in the Lord. I was taught
to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and was gloriously saved,
and set free from condemnation for sin. Then as I searched the Scriptures,
asking God to lead me to those readings from which I would receive the greatest
benefit, the Lord began to reveal to me the truths of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost, the signs following, the gifts of the spirit, and the supernatural
things of God.
It was not long until God led me into a
Pentecostal church, where I began to see in a small measure the blessings of
God, and a few of the manifestations of the Spirit. It was in these meetings
that I became convinced that I needed the Baptism with the Spirit, and there I
began to pray and earnestly seek God for that experience.
Thirty days after my conversion, I was
gloriously filled with the Holy Ghost, in an Assembly of God camp meeting in
Miami, Oklahoma, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
I had read, "Ye shall receive power
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8. I fully expected
that with the infilling of the Holy Ghost, I would immediately have power to
heal the sick, and to perform miracles. It did not take me long to realize that
more was required than the baptism with the Holy Ghost, in order to
consistently see these results. The baptism with the Spirit provides access to
this power, but the gifts of the Spirit provide the channels through which this
power operates. I began immediately to pray and seek the gifts of the Spirit. I
felt I must have power to heal the sick, for I knew that God never called
anyone to preach the Gospel without commissioning him also to heal the sick.
The power of the Holy Ghost may be readily
likened to the power of electricity. When one is filled with the Spirit, it is
as though he has had his house wired, and established connection with the
"power house". Many people use electricity for years just to provide
light! They never take advantage of the great possibilities that are available
through using the appliances which electricity will operate. The gifts of the
Spirit may be likened to the appliances. As new gifts are added more work can
be done, with greater ease. The power has not changed, but it is made more
effective. God never intended to STOP when he had filled his people with the
Spirit. This is just the beginning. "Covet earnestly the best gifts."
I Cor. 12:31. This, I found, is the path to greater accomplishment for God.
Two years after my conversion, I was
happily married, and began my ministry.
For more than a year, my wife and I
continued preaching this glorious gospel of salvation, the baptism with the
Spirit, the second coming of Christ, and DIVINE HEALING. In every revival
meeting, I always planned at least two nights in each week to be set aside for
preaching divine healing, and prayer for the sick. During this time, we saw a
large number of miraculous healings, for God honored the preaching of His word.
But I knew that God's plan included greater things for me, and I believed that
there would be a time in the future when they would be a reality in my life.
Many times, my wife and I would search the
scriptures together, becoming more convinced as we did so that God's promises
concerning the signs following, the gifts of the Spirit, healings, and miracles
were meant for us, today. It was also plain to see that we did not possess that
power in the fullness that God had promised. We knew there must be a scriptural
reason why we were so lacking in power. Since God cannot lie, the fault had to
be WITHIN OURSELVES!
It was while pastoring my first church, an
Assembly of God church in Colorado, that I definitely made up my mind that I
MUST hear from heaven, and know the reason that my ministry was not confirmed
by signs and wonders.
I felt sure that if I would fast and pray,
God would in some way speak to me, and reveal to me what stood between me and
the miracle-working power of God in my ministry. I was so hungry for the power
of God in my own life that I felt I could not stand in my pulpit, nor even
preach again, until I had heard from God, and told my wife that this was my
plan.
It was then that I had the greatest battle
of my life. Satan was determined that I should NOT fast and pray until God
answered. Many times he whipped me or tricked me out of that prayer closet.
Satan knew that if I ever actually contacted God, there would be much damage to
his kingdom, and he meant to do all in his power to hinder me from making that
contact.
Day after day, I went into the prayer
closet, determined to stay until God had spoke to me. Again and again, I came
out without the answer.
Again and again my wife would say to me,
"I thought you said this was the time you were going to stay until you got
the answer." Then she would smile in her own sweet way, remembering that
"the spirit indeed is willing, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK!"
Again and again I answered her,
"Honey, I really meant to pray it through this time, but -- !" It
seemed there was always a reason why I couldn't stay in that closet until the
answer came. I always justified myself by saying I would pray it through
tomorrow. Things would be more favorable then.
The Lord encouraged my heard by calling to
my attention how Daniel held on in fasting and prayer, and wrested the answer
from the hands of satan, although it took three weeks to do so. (See Daniel
10:1 and 12)
The next day found me on my knees in the
closet again. I had told my wife I would never come out until I heard from God.
I REALLY THOUGHT I MEANT IT.
But a few hours later, when I began to
smell the odor of food that my wife was preparing for herself and our small
son, I was soon out of the closet and in the kitchen, inquiring, "What
smells so delicious, dear?"
A few moments later, while I was at the
table, God spoke to my heart. I had only taken one bite of food, and I stopped.
God had spoken to me. I knew that until I wanted to hear from God MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, more than food, more than the gratification of the
flesh, GOD WOULD NEVER GIVE ME THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS IN MY HEART!
I arose quickly from the table, and said
to my wife, "Honey, I mean business with God this time! I'm going back
into that closet, and I want you to lock me inside. I am going to stay there
until I hear from God."
"Oh," she replied, "you'll
be knocking for me to open the door in an hour or so." She knew that so
many times I had said THIS was the time I would stay until I had the answer,
she was beginning to wonder if I really could subdue the flesh long enough to
defeat the devil. Nevertheless, I heard her lock the door from the outside.
Before she left, she said, "I'll let you out any time you knock."
I answered, "I'll not knock until I
have the answer that I have wanted so long." At last I had definitely made
up my mind to stay there till I heard from God, no matter what the cost!
Hour after hour, I battled with the devil
and the flesh in that closet! Many were the times I almost gave up. It seemed
to me that days were slipping by, and my progress was so slow! Many times I was
tempted to give it all up, and try to be satisfied without the answer -- to go
on just as I had been doing. But deep in my soul I knew I could never be
satisfied to do that. I had tried it, and found that it was not enough.
No! I would stay right here on my knees
until God answered, or I would die in the attempt!
Then the glory of God began to fill the
closet. I thought for a moment that my wife had opened the door, as the closet
door began to grow light. But my wife had not opened the door of the closet --
JESUS HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF HEAVEN, and the closet was flooded with light, the
light of the glory of God!
I do not know how long I had stayed in the
closet before this happened, but it doesn't matter. I do not care to know. I
only know I prayed UNTIL!
The presence of God was so real, so
wonderful, and so powerful that I felt I would die right there on my knees. It
seemed that if God came any closer, I could not stand it! Yet I wanted it, and
was determined to have it.
Was this my answer? Was God going to speak
to me? Would God, at last, after these many years, satisfy my longing heart?
How long had I been here? I didn't know! I seemed to lose consciousness of
everything but the mighty presence of God. I tried to see Him, and then was
afraid that I would, for suddenly I realized that should I seem Him, I would
die. (Exodus 33:20.) Just His glorious presence was enough!
If only He would speak to me now! If He
would just answer my one question, "Lord, why can't I heal the sick? Why
can't I work miracles in Your name? Why do signs not follow my ministry as they
did that of Peter, John and Paul?"
Then like a whirlwind, I heard His voice!
It was God! He was speaking to me! This was the glorious answer for which I had
waited so long!
In His presence I felt like one of the
small pebbles at the foot of the towering Rockies. I felt I was unworthy even
to hear His voice. But He wasn't speaking to me because I was worthy. He was
speaking to me because I was needy. Centuries ago, He had promised to supply
that need. This was the fulfilment of that promise.
It seemed that faster than any human could
possibly speak faster than I could follow mentally, God was talking to me. My
heart cried out, "Speak a little more slowly. I want to remember it
all!"
It seemed God was speaking to me so fast,
and of so many things I could never remember it all. Yet I knew I could never
forget! God was giving me a list of the things which stood between me and the power
of God. After each new requirement was added to the list in my mind, there
followed a brief explanation, or sermonette, explaining that requirement and
its importance.
Some of the things God spoke to me sounded
like scriptures. I knew some of them were, but those first three -- could they
be from the Bible?
If I had known there were so many things
to remember, I would have brought a pencil and paper! I hadn't expected that
God would speak in such a definite way, and give me such a long list. I had never
dreamed that I was falling so far short of the glory of God. I hadn't realized
there were so many things in my life that generated doubt and hindered my
faith.
While God continued to speak to me, I
began to feel in my pockets for a pencil. At last I located a short one, but
the lead was broken. Quickly I sharpened it with my teeth. I searched for a
piece of paper. I couldn't find any. Suddenly I remembered the cardboard box
filled with winter clothes which I was using for an altar. I would write on the
box.
Now I was ready!
I asked the Lord to please start all over
again at the beginning, and let me write the things down one at a time -- to
speak slowly enough so that I could get it all on paper.
Once more God started at the first, and
spoke to me one after another the many things He had already mentioned. As God
spoke to me, I wrote them down.
When the last requirement was written down
on the list, God spoke once again, and said, "This is the answer. When you
have placed on the altar of consecration and obedience the last thing on your
list, YE SHALL NOT ONLY HEAL THE SICK, BUT IN MY NAME SHALL YE CAST OUT DEVILS.
YE SHALL SEE MIGHTY MIRACLES AS IN MY NAME YE PREACH THE WORD, FOR BEHOLD, I
GIVE YOU POWER OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY."
God revealed to me at the same time that
the things that were hindrances to my ministry, and had prevented God from
working with me, confirming the Word with signs following, were the very same
things which were hindering so many thousands of others.
Now it began to grow darker in the closet.
I felt His mighty power begin to lift. For a few more moments, His presence
lingered, and then I was alone.
Alone, yet not alone.
I trembled under the mighty lingering
presence of God. I fumbled at the bottom of the cardboard box on which I had
been writing. In the dark, I tore the part on which I had written from the box.
In my hand I held the list. At last, here was the price I must pay for the
power of God in my life and ministry. THE PRICE TAG FOR THE MIRACLE-WORKING
POWER OF GOD!
Frantically, I pounded on the locked door.
Again and again I pounded. At last, I heard my wife coming. She opened the
door. The moment she saw me, she knew I had beem with God. Her first words
were, "You've got the answer!"
"Yes, honey. God has paid me a visit
from heaven, and here is the answer."
In my hand was the old brown piece of
cardboard, with the answer that had cost so many hours of fasting and prayer
and waiting, and -- yes -- believing!
My wife and I sat down at the table with
the list before us, and as I told her the story, we both wept, as together we
went down the list.
There were thirteen items on the list when
I came out of the closet, but I erased the last two before showing the list to
my wife, because those two were so personal that even my wife shall never know
what they were. She has never asked, for she realizes that these things MUST
remain between me and God.
The remaining eleven things make up the
contents of this book. There is one entire chapter devoted to each of these
eleven requirements. If you, too, have longed for the manifestation of the
mighty power of God in your own life and ministry, I trust that these thoughts
shall inspire you, and that God may speak to you, as he did me, and lead you on
to new victory and greater usefulness because of this book.
Since God spoke to me that day in the
closet, many pages have been torn from the calendar. In fact, many calendars
have been replaced by new ones. As the time has passed, one by one, I have
marked the requirements from my list. The list grew smaller and smaller, as I
shouted the victory over satan, and marked off one after another!
Finally, I was down to the last two. Satan
said to me, "You've marked off eleven items, but here are two you'll never
mark off. I've got you whipped."
But by the grace of God, I told the devil
he was a liar. If God said I could mark them all off, He would help me to do
it!
Yet, it seemed I would never be able to
mark off the last two.
Never will I forget the day I looked over
my list, and found, praise God, there was only one thing left! If I could mark
that off, I could claim the promise that God had made to me.
I had to claim that promise! Millions were
sick and afflicted, beyond the help of medical science. Some one MUST bring
deliverance to them. God had called me to take deliverance to the people. GOD
HAS CALLED EVERY MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL TO DO THE SAME! (Ezek. 34:1-4.)
Many have been the times when God has
poured out His Spirit in my meetings in a measure, as I have traveled across
the states. However, I knew that when I marked the last item from my list, I
would see such miracles as I had never seen before. In the meantime, I would
patiently strive toward victory, trusting God to help me until victory came.
Trusting that when that victory was mine, God would be glorified, and others,
too, would be encouraged to seek God for his power.
At this writing, I am conducting a
"BACK TO GOD HEALING REVIVAL" at Calvary Temple in Oakland,
California. Many say it is the greatest REVIVAL in the history of Oakland.
Hundreds say that they have never witnessed such a dynamic moving of the power
of God. The meeting is now in its fifth great week. From the growing interest
and increasing attendance the meeting could, no doubt, continue indefinitely.
Night after night, the waves of Divine
Glory so sweep over the congregation that many testify of being healed while
sitting in their seats. Again and again as we have felt the mighty power of God
settling over the meeting, people have risen to their feet to testify of
instant healings, some of which are visibly miraculous, such as outward tumors
disappearing, the crippled made whole.
I have felt goiters disappear at the touch
of my hand in Jesus' name!
The shouts of victory are many as the
blind see. One woman testified, "It was like coming out of the dark into
the sunlight."
We prayed for a woman with throat trouble.
After a few moments, she was seen hurrying to the ladies rest room. After
returning to the auditorium, she testified that after prayer, something came
loose out of her throat and came up into her mouth. she had hurried to the rest
room to dispose of it. It was some kind of foreign growth (doubtless cancer) --
whitish orange in color.
Ruptures as large as a person's fist have
disappeared overnight. Cancer, deafness, tumors, goiters, sugar diabetes, every
known disease and many unknown, disappear, as in the name of Jesus, we lay
hands upon the sick. Genuine healings are proven in many cases by doctors'
statements and x-rays.
We stand in holy awe, and marvel at the
miracle working power of God, as it has moved night after night from the very
beginning of this meeting. Hundreds have been delivered from the power of the
enemy -- saved, healed, or filled with the Spirit.
In this meeting, it has been impossible to
have what is generally termed a "healing line". At least ninety
percent of those upon whom we have laid hands are prostrated under the mighty
power of God immediately. Some dance a few steps, or weave drunkenly under the
power of the Spirit before falling. (See Jer. 23:9). Under these circumstances,
it is impossible to have people march on after prayer.
This is the mighty power of God moving
upon the people. It is the same power that caused John to "fall at his
feet as dead". (Rev. 1:17.)
Many say that the most outstanding thing
about this meeting is that such a large percentage of the sick are receiving
such miraculous deliverance. It would be a conservative estimate to say that at
least ninety percent, or even more of those prayed for have been marvelously
healed.
Tonight's service was designated
"Holy Ghost Night." Calvary Temple was packed to the doors, with
people sitting on the altar benches. (This is being written at 2:00 am after a
great Holy Ghost service.) Eternity alone will reveal the number of people who
were filled or refilled with the Spirit. We had announced that in this service,
hands would be laid upon seekers for the infilling of the Spirit, according to
Acts 8:17. After the sermon, all who had not already been filled during the
service came down the outside aisle in a line. With only a few exceptions,
everyone we touched in the name of Jesus fell prostrate. What an unusual sight
to stand on the platform afterwards, and look upon the many "slain of the
Lord" in every available altar space, and even down the aisles! Sweeter
yet, the sound of the heavenly music of voices raised in united praise to God,
as the Spirit filled obedient believers, and they began to speak in new tongues
and magnify God. (Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46)
I do not claim to possess a single gift of
the Spirit, nor to have power to impart any gift to others, yet all the gifts
of the Spirit are in operation, night after night.
Many are exercising the gifts of the
Spirit WITHOUT IMPOSITION OF HANDS OR PROPHETIC UTTERANCE!
God is confirming His Word WITH SIGNS
FOLLOWING!
Why have I seen such a change in the
results of my ministry? You ask WHY? Have you not guessed?
THE LAST ITEM OF THE LIST GOD GAVE TO ME
in the closet of prayer HAS BEEN MARKED OFF THE LIST AT LAST! Hallelujah! Many
times, I almost gave up hope of ever being able to mark that last one off, but
at last it is gone! By God's grace, GONE FOREVER!
With the marking off of the last
requirement on my list, has come the fulfillment of God's promise. THE SICK ARE
HEALED. DEVILS ARE CAST OUT. MIGHTY MIRACLES ARE SEEN IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AS
HIS WORD IS PREACHED!
The chapters which follow give the
requirements which God gave to me, and are dedicated to all those who are
hungry for the MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD.
What strange words! Why should God speak
thus to me?
Somehow, I knew that I had read those
words somewhere, but where? (I later discovered that this was quoted from the
Bible -- Matt. 10:24.) But this was the voice of God, speaking directly to ME.
This was the same voice which had spoken to Phillip (Acts 8:30), saying,
"Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." It was the voice which
Peter had heard (Acts 10:15), saying, "What God hath cleansed that call
not thou common." The voice which God's Word tells us may still be heard
today. "As the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness." Heb. 3:7,8. Now I was hearing the voice of God. All others
who might share in the message of these words were for the moment blotted out
of my thinking. I had asked God for a solution to my problem, and God was
giving the answer.
First of all, I must know that NEVER could
there be any possibility of being above my Master, Jesus.
You say, "What is so strange about
that? Surely no one would expect to be above HIM!
But wait! You may find that you too, just
as I had, have been seeking and expecting that very thing. I had read His
promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
John 14:12. Although it seemed hardly reasonable that anyone could really do a
greater miracle than those done by Jesus, yet this seemed to be what the
scripture said. Many times I had wondered about the meaning of this scripture.
The thought that the disciple could do a greater miracle than his Lord seemed
to be a direct contradiction of the spirit of the scripture. Now I could see
that this promise, like all God's promises, is true when rightly understood.
"Greater works shall he do," in the sense that Jesus was only one,
limited by time and transportation difficulties to a small area and a few
people. Those who believe on Him are many. They are scattered over the face of
the entire earth. Many of His modern disciples have circled the globe,
preaching to thousands at one time by means of electrical amplification
systems, and to vast unseen audiences through radio and television, bringing
deliverance to greater multitudes than did Jesus. Where Jesus reached hundreds,
His followers are reaching thousands. The works of power which are done today
are THE SAME WORKS which He did -- greater in quantity, but not in quality.
EVERY BELIEVER has promised to him the same power which Jesus used -- miracles
after the same pattern which they saw their Master do, first in the flesh and
later through the written record found in the four gospels. What mighty things
would have been accomplished had all the followers of Jesus made use of this
power!
The words quoted at the beginning of this
chapter were part of the message of Christ to twelve believers who were sent
out to do the very things which I knew God had called me to do -- "Heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." Matt. 10:8. With these wonderful promises of power
were included warnings of persecution -- "Ye shall be brought before
governors and kings for my sake." Verse 18. "Brother shall deliver up
brother to death, and the father the chil../../../.. and the children shall rise up against
their parents, and cause them to be put to death." Verse 21. No
deliverance from this persecution was promised to the followers of Christ,
although they were to have power to do the things which He did. CHRIST HIMSELF
WAS PERSECUTED. If His disciples could do the works He did, and in addition be
delivered from persecution, then indeed would the disciple be above his master.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Tim. 3:12.
Persecution is one of the universal results
of manifested power.
Jesus was not persecuted while He remained
in the carpenter shop at Nazareth, but the moment He started to do mighty
things, He was called "Prince of devils," and attempts began to be
made to destroy his life. (See Luke 4:29.) Persecutions continued for three and
one-half years, until at last He was crucified, for no other reason than
because He had power which the powerless religious leaders of his day feared.
Peter was a "good fellow" so long as he was a mere fisherman, but when
he healed the lame man, they threw him in jail. Acts 3:7; 4:3. So long as
Stephen was just a "member" in the First Church at Jerusalem he got
along nicely, but the moment he "did great wonders and miracles among the
people" (Acts 6:8), he was called into judgment and stoned. Paul never had
to flee at night for his life, because of his religion, until after he had met
God in a supernatural way.
Even so, you will not meet with much
opposition and persecution so long as you are just, as the world would say, a
"normal Christian," but when you begin to accept God's promises for
your life, and to do the UNUSUAL, persecution will come!
Personally, I met with very little
opposition until I made up my mind to have all God had promised me as a
minister.
This opposition may appear to come from
people, but it is really directed by satan, the commanding general of the
opposing army, and using all the methods of warfare from direct frontal attack
to "fifth column activities" among our own people.
Again and again, Jesus pointed out to His
disciples the price of following in His steps, recommending that they count the
cost, and offering them the opportunity of turning back if the price seemed too
great, in proportion to the value of the blessing to be received. Our master
"for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:2.
If we suffer we shall also reign with
him." II Tim. 2:12. To the disciple who seeks to share in His power and
glory, it must FIRST OF ALL be pointed out that he, being not greater than his
master, must follow the same path of suffering, faithfulness and consecration
which his Master followed, if he is to reach the goal, if he would know the
abundant life -- the powerful life -- in this world, and share in heaven's
glory.
If the Son of God must suffer rejection,
persecution, cruel scourgings, and crucifixion, at the hands of those to whom
He came to minister, His disciple is not above suffering in order that he may
carry the gospel of deliverance to those in bondage.
If Christ Himself must reject all earthly
ambitions -- even refusing the opportunity to rule the world, when that
opportunity was presented aside from the principals of godliness (see Matt.
4:8-10) -- then surely His disciple, if he is to know real power, must have an
eye single to the purpose of God, rejecting all offers but His, no matter how
attractive they may be. His cry must be, like his Master, "Lo I come to do
thy will, O God." Heb. 10:7. Like Paul, he must be able to say, "I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ."
Phil 3:8.
If the Son of God must spend long hours of
the night, when the rest of the world was sleeping, alone on the mountain top
with His Father, in order that He might be able to cast out even those demons
of whom He said, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting"
(Matt. 17:21), surely His disciple also must spend hours in fasting and prayer,
waiting upon God -- learning to think and act in unison with God -- before he
can expect to cast out such demons.
"Men ought always to pray and not to
faint," Luke 18:1. Persistent, habitual prayer was one of the outstanding
characteristics of the life of Christ. When Judas desired to find Jesus in
order to betray Him to the priests, he knew that he would find Him in the
garden of prayer. Prayer to our Lord was more important than teaching and
healing, for He refused to allow Himself to be swept off His feet by the
multitudes who "came together to hear, and to be healed by Him" (Luke
5:15,16), but withdrew Himself from the crowd which demanded His attention into
the wilderness, and prayed. Prayer was more important to Him than the working
of miracles, for miracles do not generate themselves. Prayer is the cause --
miracles the result. Prayer to Jesus was more important than rest and sleep,
for we find that "in the morning rising up a great while before day, he
went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark 1:35.
And again, "He went out into a mountain to pray and he continued all night
in prayer to God." Luke 6:12.
If the disciple could attain the same
results which Jesus did WITHOUT PAYING THE SAME PRICE WHICH JESUS PAID, then it
would have to be confessed that the disciple had become greater than his
master. The "student" would have learned a better, more efficient
method than that taught to him by his "teacher." In the world, this
often happens. Many a musician has advanced beyond the one who gave him his
training. Many an artist has far excelled the one who taught him to draw and
paint. And many a scientist has learned for himself things which his science
teachers never knew. But the student of Jesus Christ CANNOT become greater than
his teacher. He cannot learn anything which Jesus did not know. He cannot find
a short cut to power with God. If he should try it, he will only meet with
disappointment and sorrow. His life will be shipwrecked and his ministry
useless.
For the disciple (student) of Christ,
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master (teacher)."
Matt. 10:25.
Before I could fully comprehend all which
God has spoken to me, suddenly He was speaking to me again, the words which
form the second step of the revelation which God gave to me as I waited before Him
in fasting and prayer.
My spirit which had been humbled and
almost crushed by the words of the first message was suddenly lifted up in a
blaze of glory, as I realized that although I could never be above my Master,
God had said I should be AS MY MASTER! (This I also found to be a quotation
from scripture -- Luke 6:40.)
This is not a promise (as some have
thought) which awaits the coming of Christ for its fulfillment. It is meant for
the followers of Christ HERE AND NOW! This promise was spoken to me directly,
for my own instruction and edification, but since it is a direct quotation of
scripture, it does not apply to me alone, but to EVERY ONE WHO WILL BELIEVE IT!
It is to YOU! You can heal the sick! You can see miracles! You can exercise the
gifts of the Spirit! (I Cor. 12:8-11) YOU CAN DO THE WORKS HE DID! God has said
that you could, and HE CANNOT LIE!
"God is not a man, that he should
lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he
not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num. 23:19.
"My covenant will I not break, nor
alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Ps. 89:34.
Then, "Every one that is
PERFECT" (that will meet the requirements, I COULD BE AS MY MASTER!
But some will say, "That is
impossible, for He was God, as well as human. And we are only human."
These are unmindful of the plain
statements of scripture, "Verily he took not on him the nature of angels:
but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore IN ALL THINGS it behooved him
to be made LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN." Heb. 2:16,17.
"But made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the LIKENESS OF MEN:
And being found IN FASHION AS A MAN, he humbled himself." Phil. 2:7,8.
"The MAN Christ Jesus." I Tim.
2:5.
One night, when Jesus and his disciples
were in a small boat, there came a great storm at sea, which caused the
disciples to be very fearful for their lives. Jesus rebuked the winds and the
sea, and immediately there was a great calm. The men who were with him in the
boat marvelled, saying, "What manner of MAN is this?" Matt. 8:27.
Their question is still the cry of many
today, when they observe some of His disciples, who by faith are claiming His
promises, and going forth healing the sick, raising the dead, and ministering
the word (as Jesus himself said they should -- Mark 16:17,18) with the
supernatural confirmation of signs following. Many seem to think that these are
some peculiar and different species, or manner, of men. They are not. They are
simply common, ordinary men, full of the Holy Ghost, and yielded to God for his
work -- men who have discovered that they can be AS THEIR MASTER, and have
dedicated their lives to reaching that goal.
When the people at Lystra saw that Paul's
command could bring healing to a man lame from his mother's womb, they said,
"The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." Being untaught
heathen they of course did not know that men could have such power. But many
Christian people seem to be just as unaware of the power which God has made
available for his people. When these poor heathen people would have offered
sacrifices unto Paul and Barnabas as Gods, they refused to permit this, saying.
"We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye
should turn -- unto the living God." See Acts 14:8-15.
Jesus truly was God, as well as man. Yet
it was not in His nature of deity that He walked upon earth and performed
miracles. The often neglected question is not "What manner of God is
this?" We as His disciples, need to ask as did those disciples of old,
"What manner of MAN is this?"
Jesus, by His own statement, was a member
of the eternal triune Godhead, composed of the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Jesus
Christ), and the Holy Ghost. He existed before the world was made, and shared
in the work of creation. (John 1:1-3.) He was not only WITH God and LIKE God,
HE WAS GOD! All the attributes of deity were His. With the Father, He was
omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal. All these are His today, as
He is glorified on the right hand of God in heaven. At the close of His earthly
ministry of healing the sick and working miracles, when He was ready to be
offered as a sacrifice for our sins, he prayed, "I have glorified thee on
the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now O
Father, glorify thou me with thine own self WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH
THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS." John 17:4,5.
The glory which was His before the world
was!
The glory which is His today!
But the glory which was LAID ASIDE when he
took on human flesh. Coming as a helpless babe, born of a woman, circumcized
like any other Jewish boy, increasing in wisdom and stature during childhood
and growth (Luke 2:52), weeping, hungering, thirsting, weary, sleeping and
waking -- partaking in every weakness and limitation of human flesh and blood.
(Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME. Heb. 2:14.) He was "IN ALL POINTS
tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
He was "in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him; and without him was not anything made that was
made." John 1:2,3. Yet for all this, Jesus USED NO POWER when He was here
on earth in the flesh WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TODAY to every believer! Such a
statement would be blasphemy HAD NOT JESUS HIMSELF made it plain, again and
again, that this was His plan.
"Everyone that is perfect SHALL BE AS
HIS MASTER." Luke 6:40.
"As thou hast send me into the world,
EVEN SO have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18.
"The works that I do SHALL HE DO
ALSO." John 14:12.
Although He was Omnipotent God, yet in His
earthly life and ministry He declared "The son can do nothing of
himself." "I can of mine own self do nothing." John 5:19,30.
"The words that I speak unto you I speak NOT OF MYSELF: But the Father
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10.
The answer to the disciples' question,
"What manner of MAN is this?" is found not in the powers of deity
which He used before He "was made flesh and dwelt amont us," nor in
the power which is His today in the heavenlies today. The answer can be found
only in His earthly (human) life. He lived that life AS AN EXAMPLE to those
whom He left in the world to finish the work which he had started while He was
here. "Leaving us an EXAMPLE, that YE should follow his steps." I
Pet. 2:21. He was our teacher (master) and we, His disciples (every one that is
perfect), SHALL BE AS our master! Had He used power which was not available to
us, it would be impossible for us to follow His example. But He left to us the
promise that we would receive THE SAME POWER and from the SAME SOURCE, that was
His!
"Behold I send the promise of my
Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with
POWER FROM ON HIGH." Luke 24:49.
"Ye shall receive POWER after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8.
These signs shall follow them that
believe: IN MY NAME they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues -- they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Mark
16:17, 18.
"Behold, I give unto you POWER --
over all the power of the enemy." Luke 10:19.
"He that believeth on me, THE WORKS
THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO." John 14:12.
"Though he was rich (in heavenly
glory and divine power) yet for your sakes he became poor, THAT YE THROUGH HIS
POVERTY MIGHT BE RICH." II Cor. 8:9 He folded it all away as a garment,
and laid aside His great wealth of power, and came into the world as a babe, in
the form of a servant, of no reputation, lived among men as one of them. (Phil.
2:7.) Tradition has invented miracles in his childhood, but the Word of God
plainly declares that "This BEGINNING of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee," (where He turned water into wine). John 2:11. He DID NO MIRACLE
nor manifested any superhuman power, BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM!
(Matt. 3:16,17; John 1:33.) It was when "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the HOLY GHOST AND WITH POWER" that he "went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM."
Acts 10:38. This is the secret of His success AS A MAN.
What manner of man?
A man ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND
WITH POWER. And God was WITH HIM!
Yet -- don't forget this -- a man who was
EVERY INCH A MAN! A man who faced -- and conquered -- EVERY TEMPTATION known to
humanity! A man who (though as God, He had been omnipresent) could only be in
one place at a time. Although as God He had neither slumbered nor slept (Ps.
121:4), as man, He suffered weariness (John 4:6) and required sleep (Matt.
8:24). He must go from place to place upon hot, weary, dusty feet -- His rate
of travel limited to the speed of walking, His feet which had trod the
immaculate golden streets of heaven soiled and bruised by the dust and stones
of the unpaved and filthy Oriental streets and paths of Palestine. How He
welcomed the cleansing coolness of the customary foot bath before meals -- when
some unselfish person thought to minister to Him in this way! He suffered
hunger and thirst, loneliness, weariness, and pain. He of whom it had been
said, "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand
hills. The world is mine and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 50:10,12), claimed
no part of it for Himself AS A MAN, but became even more poor than the foxes
and birds, for He had not so much as a place to lay His head. (Luke 9:58).
All this He did WILLINGLY for us, that we
might share the riches of His glory.
When satan tempted Him in the wilderness
(Matt. 4:3,4), the first temptation was that He should act in the creative
power of the ETERNAL SON OF GOD, in order that His human hunger might be
satisfied. Had He done this, He would have failed in being "in all points
like unto his brethren." It was important to the plan of satan that this
point should, if possible, be spoiled. But Jesus did not fall into this
temptation. In His reply is no assumption of deity. He answered firmly AS A
MAN! "MAN shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God."
He loved to refer to Himself as the "SON
OF MAN."
Since it is so apparent by the scripture
that Jesus took upon Himself our own nature and limitations, in order that He
might be made a proper example for us, it behooves us to study that example
carefully, considering the question, "What manner of persons OUGHT YE TO
BE in all holy conversation and godliness." II Pet. 3:11.
He was a man of power. He spoke as one
having authority (Mark 1:22). The people were astonished at this, for the
religious leaders of their day knew nothing of this power, but taught
traditions and theories and theological explanations. Jesus cut across all the
lines drawn by their fine points of doctrine, and DROVE OUT BY HIS WORDS OF
AUTHORITY demons, sickness and infirmity. When he spoke THINGS HAPPENED! He
spoke as one having authority BECAUSE HE HAD AUTHORITY! The traditional
religious leaders did not speak as He spoke because they had never been given
authority over the power of the enemy. How many "religious" leaders
today speak as the scribes and Pharasees! Those who are LIKE their master speak
with authority -- the authority which was Christ's while He was here to use it,
because He had received it from the Father (John 5:27). He came in the Father's
name (John 5:43), and His legal AGENT, to work the works of His Father.
("I must work the works of him that sent me." John 9:4.) While He was
on earth He chose disciples (first twelve, Luke 9:1, then seventy others, Luke
10:1,19) which He appointed as "deputies," giving them the same power
of attorney which He used. ("Lord, even the devils are subject unto us
THROUGH THY NAME." Luke 10:17.) Thus were they trained under His direct
supervision to be ready to carry forward "all that Jesus BEGAN both to do
and to teach" (Acts 1:1), when the time should come for Him to return to
the Father.
Having now returned to the Father, and
being on the right hand of God exalted, He has not planned that the work which
He began through such suffering and sacrifice should cease to be carried
forward. Before He went away, He left command and authority for the
continuation of His work. Those who believe on Him are made His agents, and are
commanded to do IN HIS NAME (by His authority, as by the power of attorney) all
the things which He Himself would do if He were present in the body! "IN
MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they
shall take up serpents (not as tempting God, but should it so happen by
accident, as it did to Paul, Acts 28:3-5) and if they drink any deadly thing it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover." Mark 16:17,18. "And whatsoever ye shall ask IN MY NAME,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13.
The gifts which He placed in the church,
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying (upbuilding) of the body of Christ (His church), Eph. 4:8-12, cover
all the great and mighty things which Jesus did when He was here in the flesh
(see I Cor. 12:7-11).
Never once did He teach, either by inference
or by direct statement, that this power would be gone from the world when He
went away. Rather, in his last commission to those He left behind, He declared,
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. GO YE THEREFORE
(because this power is HIS, and through Him OURS, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8) and
teach ALL NATIONS -- teaching them to OBSERVE (obey -- Webster's definition)
ALL THINGS (Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils,
freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. 10:8.) whatsoever I have commanded
you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Matt. 28:18-20.
These disciples, anointed with the Holy
Ghost (Acts 2:4), "went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord was
working WITH THEM, and confirming the word with SIGNS FOLLOWING." Mark
16:20.
So long as men are anointed with the Holy
Ghost, and God is with them, as it was with Jesus (Acts 10:38) and the early
disciples (Mark 16:20) and as Jesus said it should be "even unto the end
of the world" (Matt. 28:20), the works Jesus did will continue to be done!
The disciple should not be above his
master, but he SHALL BE AS HIS MASTER!
But if we are to be like Him in POWER, we
must also be like Him in holiness, in consecration, in meekness, in compassion.
We must be like Him in prayer and in fellowship with the Father. We must be
like Him in faith. We must be like Him in fasting and self denial. If it were
possible for the servant to be like Him in power without paying the price He
paid, then the servant would be above his Lord.
There is a price to be paid for all that
God offers to mankind. In a sense, it is all free, but there is a price of
obedience and preparedness. Even our free salvation is ours only when we have
heeded the admonition of God to repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
The "gift of the Holy Ghost" is ours only when we obey Him. Acts
5:32. Power with God LIKE JESUS HAD is for those -- ALL THOSE -- who meet the
condition, "every one that is PERFECT shall be as his master." Luke 6:40.
These words seemed even more startling
than the ones which God had already spoken. Surely this was too much! Could any
mortal ever hope to be perfect? Yet surely God would not ask me to do something
which He knew I could not do! And without doubt, this was the voice of God. I
had asked bread of my heavenly Father, and I knew that He would not give me a
stone. How thrilling to my soul when I learned that this, too, was a quotation
from scripture! I found it in Matt. 5:48. It was Christ's own command, not only
to me but to all who would be the "children of your Father which is in
heaven" (verse 45). Perfection is the GOAL set by Christ for every
Christian. Not every Christian has reached that goal. No Christian has a right
to boast that he has attained it. Even the great Apostle Paul declared,
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I
follow after" (Phil 3:12). No Christian worthy of the name will be
satisfied to be less than perfect. No Christian should make excuse for his own
imperfections, but should recognize them as failure to keep the command of
Christ, and strive earnestly to overcome them. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL!
For the benefit of those who may have been
taught that no person except Christ was ever perfect, let us note that GOD
HIMSELF ascribes perfection to a number of men. They did not claim perfection
for themselves, but God declared that they were perfect.
First of all, Job, the hero of the oldest
written book of the Bible was a perfect man. His friends didn't think he was
perfect; they accused him of hypocracy (see Job 8:6,13.) Satan did not think he
was perfect; he accused him of serving God only because of the material
blessings which God had given him. Job himself was willing to admit that he was
imperfect, for he declared, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes," Job 42:6. But when satan accused him before the Lord, God himself
declared, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like
him in the earth, a PERFECT AND AN UPRIGHT MAN?" Job 1:8. And then for the
benefit of all who might read this scripture, God added his definition of human
perfection -- "one that feareth God and escheweth (shunneth, avoideth) evil."
Many object to the teaching of possible
perfection on the grounds that they have never seen a perfect man. In Job's
day, God declared that there was only one. Again, in Noah's day there was only
one. Yet God declares that Noah was PERFECT! "Noah was a just man and
PERFECT in his generations, and Noah walked with God." Gen. 6:9.
Some declare that if one should become
perfect, he would immediately be translated, as was Enoch, carelessly
disregarding the fact that the scripture declares that Enoch 'walked with
God" for at least three hundred years before he "was not", Gen
5:22, and that "BEFORE his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God." Heb. 11:5.
All these Old Testament saints were
perfect, before even the law was given. No divinity, nor superhuman perfection
is attributed to any one of them. They were MEN, subject to like passions as we
are, but they knew and feared God, kept his commands, and carefully avoided the
overflowing evils of the idolitrous people among whom they lived, in some of
the most outstandingly evil ages in history.
Was perfection possible under the law?
Moses, speaking God's message to the
entire congregation of Israel, declared "Thou shalt be PERFECT with the
Lord thy God." Deut. 18:13.
Man is sometimes more critical than God.
When Mirian and Aaron complained against Moses, God took his part, speaking to
them out of the pillar of cloud and saying, "My servant Moses -- is
FAITHFUL in all mine house!" Numbers 12:7. While this does not use the
word "perfect", surely it meets the definition given in Job 1:8.
David was not persuaded that perfection
was impossible, for he declared, in one of his inspired Psalms, "I will
behave myself wisely IN A PERFECT WAY. I will walk within my house with a
PERFECT HEART." Ps. 101:2.
All these, and no doubt many others (such
as Daniel, Joseph, Abraham, Elijah, and Elisha, etc.) lived lives of holiness
(perfection) in the days before many of our advantages were given. It was to
his New Testament church that God gave the complete scriptures. "ALL
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable -- that the man of
God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Tim. 3:16,17.
It was not until our own dispensation that
Christ was preached, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching
every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ
Jesus." Col. 2:28.
It was to his New Testament Church that
Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers "FOR THE
PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING OF THE
BODY OF CHRIST." Eph. 4:11,12.
Unto them, the glorious outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, our constantly abiding Comforter, teacher and guide, (John 14:26)
had not been given. But to us he is given -- to every one who will obey God
(Acts 5:32).
How much easier it should be for us, with
all these advantages, to be perfect than for those who lived before these
things were given!
God says to us, "Ye are the temple of
the living Go../../../.. as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them . . . .
Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto
you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of
God." II Cor. 6:16-7:1.
These promises are ours! We CAN cleanse
ourselves from ALL FILTHINESS! We can PERFECT HOLINESS in the fear of God! Like
Job, we can fear God and shun evil, and be perfect in the sight of God.
This is not a "new thing". The
doctrine of entire sanctification has been taught by many outstanding servants
of Christ throughout the church age, and is accepted as sound doctrine by a
number of major denominations. Since this is only a small book, space prevents
quoting from the statements of fundamental truths of many groups. I will quote
here from only one, that found in the Constitution of the General Council of
the Assemblies of God. (Minutes and Constitution, with Bylaws, Revised (1949
edition), Page 38, Section 9.)
Entire Sanctification (br)
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness
without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost we are
able to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am Holy." Entire
sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly
pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word. Heb. 12:14; I Peter 1:15, 16; I
Thess. 5:23, 24; I John 2:6."
Call it what you will -- perfection,
holiness, entire sanctification -- it is not only possible, it is not only our
priviledge, it is God's COMMAND.
"Be ye holy in ALL MANNER OF
CONVERSATION." I Peter 1:15.
"Be ye therefore perfect." Matt.
5:48.
You say, "I know a lot of Christians,
even preachers, who say you can't be perfect, and there is no use to try."
We know them, too. They are not healing
the sick nor casting out demons! Sin is the devil's bridgehead in your life.
Let him hold the bridgehead, if you will. But it will rob you of power!
Jesus did not allow the devil to maintain
a bridgehead in his life, for he declared just before he was crucified,
"The prince of this world (satan) cometh, and hath NOTHING in me."
John 14:30. He had power to accomplish the work he came into the world to do
because satan had NOTHING -- not even one little bridgehead of pet sin or
self-indulgence -- in Him.
We, his followers, are admonished to keep
the coasts of our lives free of "bridgeheads" too. "Neither give
PLACE to the devil." Eph. 4:27. It is his business to make you think that
you can't expect to keep your life entirely free of his hideouts and landing
strips. If he can get you to leave him a place to work from, he can sabotage
every effort you make for God, and rob you of the power you have longed for.
The work God has given you to do will go undone. The sick will not be healed,
the captives not set free. Should you attempt to cast out demons, they will
laugh in your face, saying, "You let us remain in your own life, and then
would cast us out of others!" Demons know the power of Christ, and they
know and fear the power of a Christ filled Christian. But they have no fear of
one who is not holy.
Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew and chief
of the priests, decided that they could say the same words which Paul used,
adjuring the demons in Jesus name to come out of those who were possesed,
without being careful to have the background of holiness and consecration which
Paul had. (See Acts 19:13-15). The evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I
know, and Paul I know; but WHO ARE YE?! Then the man in whom the evil spirit
was, leaped on them, and overcame them, so that they fled naked and wounded.
They didn't think holiness was necessary, but they found to their sorrow that
it CAN NOT BE OVERLOOKED, if one is to exercise the miracle working power of
God! The reaction is not so immediate and violent in every case, for these
"vagabond Jews" had tried it before, and only once did this happen.
But never once did they succeed in casting out a demon. Demons flee only before
the power of Christ, or of a Christ-filled life. There is no way to have power
with God without holiness -- for Jesus himself said, "Every one that is
PERFECT shall be AS HIS MASTER." Luke 6:40.
There is much that could be said about
perfection. An entire book could easily be written in defense of the
possibility of obeying the command of God, "Be ye holy, for I am
holy." I Peter 1:16. However, enough has been said to open the eyes of the
person who is hungry for truth, and eager to have the power which Jesus
promised to his followers, THE MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD.
But it will take more than knowing that
holiness is possible. You want to know how you can attain it.
Not every Christian has reached the goal.
Not every follower of Christ has the power which he promised. The twelve chosen
disciples, even after having healed many that were sick and cast out many
demons in Jesus' name, met a demon one day who refused to go at their command.
Matt. 17:15. When Jesus had cast out the demon, the disciples asked him why
they could not do it. He gave as the reason their UNBELIEF, and lack of fasting
and prayer. These twelve chosen men were at times found to lack in the
manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit, and to show evidence of such works
of the flesh as pride (Mark 10:37), jealousy (Mark 10:41), anger (Matt. 26:51).
They slept when they should have prayed (Matt. 26:40), and deserted him in
times of trial (vs. 56). They failed to discern the plan of God, and rebuked
Jesus because he told them that he would be killed, so that Jesus said to one
of them, "Get thee behind me, satan: -- Thou savourest not the things that
be of God, but those that be of men." Matt. 16:23. These men had not
reached perfection, but they earnestly desired to be perfect, and worked
diligently to attain the promises of God, and God honoured them, and was not
ashamed to be called their God.
Do not be discouraged because you have not
attained unto perfection. There is an ultimate perfection which will only be
reached when we see Jesus face to face at his coming. There is a growth in
grace, growing toward perfection, which must continue so long as we remain in
the flesh. Our perfection may be likened to the fruit on a tree. From the time
the bud appears, the apple on the inside, though very tiny, can be perfect. It
has not taken on the size, color, nor flavor which it will eventually have, but
nevertheless in its present state it is perfect. As it is nourished, and fed,
and protected from frost and disease -- as the sun and the rain touch it, and
the heat and the cold, it grows into a perfect little green apple, and finally
the large, beautiful, rich, full-ripe fruit.
It was this "unripe fruit"
perfection which Paul referred to in Phil. 3:15 -- "Let US (including
himself) therefore, as many as be PERFECT be thus minded." Three verses
before, he had said, "Not as though I had already attained, either were
ALREADY PERFECT." (vs. 12.) Here he was speaking of the ultimate
perfection of the full ripe fruit, the perfection which will only be complete
with the resurrection of the dead. Paul was not unmindful of the perfection
which had already been attained, but with the true Christian spirit, he was not
satisfied to remain in that state, but, though he didn't claim to be perfect,
declared, "I follow after." "This one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are
before, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK." (vs. 12,13,14.)
There is no stopping place short of
ultimate perfection. Although the immature Christian may be perfect in God's
sight, HE WILL CEASE TO BE PERFECT WHEN HE IS WILLING TO STOP GROWING! When the
little green apple stops growing, it will soon wither and fall from the tree.
Perfection must be attained, and constantly striven for.
Growth must be maintained through FOOD
"Desire the sincere milk of the word (the Bible) that ye may grow
thereby." I Peter 2:2. A good appetite for the word of God is very
necessary if we are to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior." 2 Pet. 2:2. A real love for the Word of God is a part of our
perfection NOW, and means much toward our ultimate perfection when Jesus comes.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that
the man of God MAY BE PERFECT." 2 Tim. 3:16,17.
Many have plenty of time to read comic
strips, magazine, novels -- everything else but the Word of God. But they are
just too busy to study their Bibles! No wonder they do not grow! No wonder they
have no power to heal the sick and cast out demons. No wonder they are not
perfect, and do not expect to be. They are not feeding their souls the right
food. "Grow in grace and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior." 2
Pet. 2:3. This knowledge comes through study of God's word. Read it a great
deal. And read it as God's revelation to you. Believe it as you read it. It is
the word of Him who cannot lie. He means EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS!
Ample protection is provided for those who
abide in Christ. Whatever our temptations may be, we need not sin for "God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but
with temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it."
I Cor. 10:13.
"He that hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6.
The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish
you and KEEP YOU FROM EVIL." 2 Thes. 3:3.
"Now unto him that is able to keep
you from falling and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of his
glory." Jude 24.
Hallelujah! It is possible to be kept by
God, and to live on a higher plane than sin.
We are not ignorant of the devices of
satan. He can quote scripture, too. How quickly he comes to comfort the
imperfect Christian, by quoting the last half of Matt. 26:41 -- "The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." This portion should never
be quoted without the first part of the verse -- "Watch and pray, that ye
ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION!" Thus may we overcome the weakness of the
flesh.
Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh." Gal. 5:16. (You may be sure satan will not
add this passage to his quotation.) "Now the works of the flesh are
manifest -- of the which I tell you -- that they which do such things SHALL NOT
INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD." Gal. 5:19-21.
"For to be CARNALLY (fleshly) MINDED
is death." Rom. 8:6.
Hide behind the weakness of the flesh if
you like, but do not overlook what God says will be the result! Do not accept
satan's suggestion, even when he quotes scripture. "RESIST THE DEVIL AND
HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU!" James 4:7.
You can be perfect! God says you can. Only
satan says you cannot.
God has provided food for you in his word,
protection for you through his spirit, and a mighty agency for your perfecting
in his Church. In order that the church might serve to this end, "He gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; for the PERFECTING of the saints --." Eph. 4:11,12.
Do not think that you shall attain the
perfection which God desires for you if you fail to heed his warning, "Not
forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some
is." Heb. 10:25. Find a good church home, where God's word is taught and
BELIEVED, where the power of God is present and welcome, where God is
confirming his word with signs following, and where God's people "Speak
the things which become SOUND DOCTRINE." Titus 2:1. Then make it a
practice to be present whenever God and his people meet. Only thus can you be
perfected by the ministry gifts which God has placed in the church. Every
service in your Spirit filled church is planned of God to contribute something
to your perfection.
Patience also has a part. "Let
patience have her perfect work that ye may be PERFECT AND ENTIRE wanting
nothing." Jas. 1:4.
The tongue also plays an important part,
for "If any man offend not in word, the same is a PERFECT man and able
also to bridle the whole body." James 3:2.
"And above all these things put on
charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. 3:14.
Christ is sufficiently interested in
pointing out the way, that if you desire to find the way of perfectness, he
will place his finger on your pet sins, and show you what is keeping you from
the goal. A young man once fell at the feet of Jesus and asked the question,
"What must I do?" Although this young man was inquiring the way of
salvation, Jesus pointed out to him the way to perfection. "If thou wilt
be PERFECT, go ----." Matt. 19:21. He laid his finger upon the young man's
pet sin. Like so many others the young man felt that this was too much. Yet it
would have been a small price to pay for perfection here, and eternal life in
the world to come. Jesus is just the same today. When you come inquiring how
you can be perfect, he will not send you away without an answer.
Perfection and more perfection is always
the Christian goal. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, be
thus minde../../../.. and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, GOD SHALL REVEAL EVEN
THIS UNTO YOU." Phil. 3:14,15.
As you read this book, satan will probably
whisper to you many times, as Pharaoh said unto Moses (Ex. 8:25)
"Sacrifice in the land." In other words, it isn't necessary to go so
far, to separate yourself from the things of the world in order to have power
with God. If you insist, he will say, "All right then, only don't go too
far." He infers there is danger in going too far.
You can't go too far with God. You may go
too far in sin. You may go too far in self righteousness. But if you are
walking with Jesus, in the Spirit, you need not fear going too far. No believer
has gone as far as God wants him to go until the signs follow his ministry. We
have not gone as far as we should go until we can lay hands on the sick and see
them recover! No church has gone as far as the Lord meant it should go until
all nine gifts of the spirit are in operation in its services. DON'T LET
PHARAOH (SATAN) KEEP YOU BACK! Go on! Go all the way. God's grace is sufficient
for you. Don't let anything keep you from appropriating the promises of God in
your own life, whether you be lay member or minister.
"Let us go on unto PERFECTION!"
Heb. 6:1.
"For even hereunto were ye called;
because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that ye should
FOLLOW HIS STEPS; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." I Peter 2:21-23.
This scripture makes it very plain to any
honest hearted child of God that Christ is OUR EXAMPLE in WORD and in DEED! We
can, then, WALK AS CHRIST WALKED, and we can TALK AS HE TALKED. This is not a
condition of one's feet or lips, but of the HEART! "For from within, out
of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and
defile a man." Mark 7:21-23.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is
he." Prov. 23:7.
Before one can walk as Christ walked, and
talk as he talked, he must first begin to THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT! This is
possible only as we "Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ." II Cor. 10:5. This doesn't just happen. It is an act of
determined consecration, requiring purpose and continual application, for the
mind loves to wander. It also requires a willing exchange, giving up the former
ways of thinking, and accepting as our own the MIND OF CHRIST. "LET this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:5.
God draws the line on some thinking. It is
possible to lead a victorious thought life. Not that satan can no longer come
with evil suggestions. Nowhere in God's word has He declared that man would not
be tempted. Even Christ was tempted. But one can refuse to allow his thought to
dwell upon evil things. A sane mind is a controlled mind. Evil thoughts can be
driven out, by filling the mind with right thoughts. We are instructed as to
what these thoughts are. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS."
Phil. 4:8.
Jesus thought right thoughts. That was the
reason that he could walk and talk right, and be a right example for us to
follow.
"Christ suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that we should follow his steps, WHO DID NO SIN." I Pet.
2;21,22. Christ did not live in habitual sin. He did not make excuses for sin.
He resisted the devil, and temptation, although he was "Tempted in all
points like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15. He is our example. And
He stands ready to help us to walk as He walked -- in his steps!
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth
not." I John 3:6.
This is contrary to much of the religious
teaching today. I am aware of this. I am also aware that multitudes of
religious people today, even many who believe in divine healing, find
themselves powerless when faced with those who need deliverance from sickness,
or demon possession. If you really want power with God, surely this matter is
worthy of serious, prayerful thought, regardless of former opinions or
religious teaching. There is a reason why some have power and some do not. And
it is not because God is a respecter of persons. Power is a direct result of
faith, and faith comes by obedience.
"Beloved, if our heart condemn us
not, then have we confidence (faith) toward God, and whatsoever we ask, we
receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are
pleasing in his sight." I John 3:21,22.
Hope is available to people without
holiness, BUT FAITH IS NOT!
If faith were available to people without
holiness, then people who can never see God could have power to ask and receive
ANYTHING THEY DESIRE from God, for God's unqualified promise to those who have
faith is, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING YE SHALL
RECEIVE." Matt. 21:22. And God has also said, "Follow peace . . . and
holiness, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD." Heb. 12:14.
Although many religious teachers declare
that everyone sins all the time; that it is impossible to live above sin; that as
long as one is in this world he must partake of a certain number of sins of
this life; that one must sin every day, and repent every night;--God's word
still calmly, simply states the command of God, "BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM
HOLY." I Peter 1:16.
Paul writing to the Corinthians, declared,
"Awake to righteousness and SIN NOT, for some have not the knowledge of
God. I speak this to your shame." I Cor. 15:34.
People who are finding excuse for their
habitual sin, according to this verse, have not the knowledge of God. This is a
SHAME! It is evidence that many professed Christians are spiritually ASLEEP!
They are not led by the spirit of God nor by the word of God, for the work of
the spirit is to reprove the world of sin and of righteousness, (John 16:8),
and the word hidden in the heart will prevent sinning against God. (Ps.
119:11.)
You can't have power when you are asleep.
WAKE UP! Quit making excuses for sin. Walk in the steps of him who DID NO SIN!
"Neither was guile found in his
mouth." I Peter 2:22.
Jesus healed by HIS WORD. (See Matt.
8:16.) "His word was with power." Luke 4:32. The follower of Christ
is assured that his words may also be words of power. (Matt. 21:21.) But if our
words are to be words of power, we must talk as he talked. Guile (cunning
craftiness, deceit) must not be found in our mouths.
Jesus WALKED IN THE SPIRIT. We who are his
followers are also exhorted to walk in the spirit. (Gal. 5:16.) In verses 19 to
21 are listed the works of the flesh, which are not present in the lives of those
who walk in the Spirit. There are some who harbor some of these works of the
flesh in their lives, making very little if any effort to overcome, who yet
feel that God should honor their word and their prayer, and give them miracle
working power. Yet verse 21 tells us that they which do such things shall not
only fail to have power, but "SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
How could one who is not even fit for the kingdom of God expect to have power
to work the works of Christ?
By studying this list of "works of
the flesh" with a dictionary, you will find that God has listed
uncleanness, lustfulness, immoderate desire, covetousness, hatred, discord,
quarreling, contention, jealousy, violent anger, rage, riotous feasting,
"and such like".
Those who do such things are NOT walking
in his steps who DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.
Paul exhorts us to "Put off the old
man (or, works of the flesh -- see context) with his deeds," and "put
on the NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that
created him." Col. 3:9-10.
Listed below are some of the
characteristics of the person who is carnal, and is not walking in the spirit.
This list, though incomplete, may open up new channels of thought for many.
PRIDE; important, independent spirit,
stiffness, or precisiveness.
LOVE OF PRAISE; love to be noticed; love
of supremacy; drawing attention to one's self, as in conversation.
ARGUING; talkative spirit; stubborn,
unteachable spirit; selfwill; unyielding; headstrong disposition; driving,
commanding spirit; criticizing spirit; peevishness; fretfulness; love to be
coaxed and humored.
Speaking of faults and failures of others
rather than of virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself.
Lustful stirrings, unholy actions, undue
affection and familiarity toward the opposite sex. Wandering eyes.
Dishonest, deceitful disposition; evading
or covering the truth; leaving a better impression of yourself than is true;
exaggeration, or straining the truth. >p>Selfishness; love for money;
love for ease; laziness.
Formality; spiritual deadness; lack of
concern for souls; dryness and indifference.
LACK OF POWER WITH GOD!
Get on your knees before God, and let him
talk to you about these things, and give you a list of your own. You may find
that there will be many other things which are now present in your life, which
God will show you MUST BE CHANGED.
A good check up on the things which we do,
say, and think is to ask yourself the question, "Would Jesus do
this?" If He would you are following his steps. If He would not, you are
missing the mark. You cannot have power with God. You may even fail to reach
heaven.
Such a life of holiness is not impossible.
God has commanded it, and "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform
it --" Phil. 1:6.
"Is anything too hard for the
Lord?" Gen. 18:14. God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for
thee". His grace is sufficient for you as well.
IF YOU REALLY WANT HOLINESS it is not
beyond your reach.
And without it you will never share in
GOD'S MIRACLE WORKING POWER!
"If any man will come after me, let
him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
The path that Jesus walked is a way of
self denial.
You are reading this book because you
desire to "come after him." Then DENY YOURSELF!
Someone once said, "No man spake as
this man! Few have learned to deny self.
While we read in the scripture of Jesus,
"Rising up A GREAT WHILE BEFORE DAY, he went out, and departed into a
solitary place and there prayed". (Mark 1:35) How many of those who would
do the works he did, find little or no time for prayer. How few of them can
bear solitude. Yes, often they pray beautifully in a crowd, or when others may
be listening. But the lonely hours of the night spent in solitary prayer bring
no glory to SELF. Self would rather turn a little, to find a more comfortable
spot on his comfortable bed, and drift softly back to sleep. Self says, "I
must have my rest." Self will raise his hand smilingly, when asked who
will pray an hour during the night or early morning. Self will rejoice that he
has been seen taking this sacrificial hour, and how well his neighbors will
think of him. But self will turn off the alarm when it sounds, and go back to
sleep. Self says, "It does no good to pray anyway, when you don't feel
like it." Jesus said, "Let him DENY HIMSELF." This is sacrifice
-- real sacrifice to God. And God honors sacrifice.
In one of my early meetings, in southern
Missouri, good crowds had been attending for a week, but not one soul had
responded to the altar call. My wife and I decided that this MUST be changed,
and agreed between ourselves that we would pray all night for souls to be saved
in that meeting. Already we were weary in body, for the hour was late, and the
service had been a hard one. Soon weariness began to creep down upon us, and
even to stay awake seemed almost impossible. Again and again one must waken the
other. There was no shouting, no excitement -- nothing to keep us awake but the
knowledge that in this little community which God had given to us as our
responsibility, souls were lost, and we must see them saved. And we had
promised God to pray it through. As the sun crept over the eastern horizon, we
knew that we had kept our vow, and that something was going to happen that
night. We could hardly wait for the time of the service. And that night,
victory came. One after another responded to the call, until nineteen souls had
found salvation, and were shouting the praises of God in a little country
schoolhouse, under the ministry of a preacher who had only been preaching three
weeks. As we went home rejoicing from that service, we knew that God had taught
us a lesson -- it pays to DENY SELF the rest he may think is rightly his. It
pays to pray it through, whether self is stimulated by any good feelings, or
urge to pray, or not.
SELF says, "Pray if you feel like
it." SELF DENIAL says, "PRAY ANYWAY."
There are times when prayer is a delight
-- when it is a time of refreshing to the weary soul. But there are times when
prayer is meeting the enemy face to face upon the battleground of the world, to
drag by force from his grasp the things which by God's promise are rightly
ours, but which satan will keep us from having, if he can possibly do so. There
are times when we must wrestle in prayer, as did Jacob, when he cried, "I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Gen. 32:26. There are times
when the answer is slow in coming, and we must hold on patiently as did Daniel,
for three full weeks (Dan. 10:2). There are times when this wrestling may leave
the body weary, and the nerves overwrought, as in the case of Elijah when he
had prayed down the fire and the rain (See I Kings 18, and 19:4). At times like
that, prayer requires self denial. But it pays. Only the person who BELIEVES in
the power of prayer will deny himself the rest which his body demands, in order
to pray. And God's promise is "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
BELIEVING, ye shall receive." Matt. 21:22.
Real prayer -- determined, prevailing
prayer -- is the greatest outlet of power on earth.
The early church prayed ten days and then
-- the miracle of Pentecost.
Moses spent forty days in the mountain
talking with God, and his face shone so that he wore a veil.
Muller prayed, and secured one million
dollars, making possible the care of 2,000 orphans.
Jesus went upon the mountain to pray, and
returned to cast out demons which go forth only by prayer and fasting. (Mark
9:29.) He did not say to the sorrowing father, "This kind goeth not out
but by prayer and fasting. Wait while I go away to fast and pray." He had
already fasted and prayed! Self denial, fasting and prayer, was a part of his
daily life. It was his habit of life. He prayed first, and when the need arose,
he was already "prayed through", and ready to meet the need.
How many think they are denying self, when
their self denial is only for selfish ends, to make their voice to be heard on
high. (See Isa. 58:3-7.)
Fasting is an important part of self
denial. The desire for food -- the richest, the tastiest, and the best -- is
one of the strongest desires of self. It was for food that Esau sold his
birthright. It was to physical hunger -- the desire for food -- that satan
directed the first of the series of temptations to Christ when he was in the
wilderness. Paul, that great apostle of power, declared that he was "in
fastings often". (II Cor. 11:27.)
Food itself is not sinful. But if it is
given undue importance, it becomes a god, and when it becomes a god, it becomes
a SIN.
Paul warned his church at Philippi of some
whom they might be tempted to follow, "they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory
is their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS." Phil. 3:18,19.
Many who desire the miracle working power
of God in their lives today are hindered by the fact that they still would
rather miss God's best for them than to miss a good meal.
How hard it was for me to remain on my
knees in my closet of prayer when the good smell of food cooking began to
filter in through the cracks around the door! And it was not until I resolutely
turned my back upon the delicious stew, and went back to my closet without my
dinner, that I heard the voice of God. It was only then that I proved to God
that he meant more to me than food -- that my belly was not my God.
Fasting itself has no power to accomplish
miracles, unless it is done rightly. The Israelites of Isaiah's time cried out,
"Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not?" (Isa. 58:3). God's
reply, through his prophet, was, "Behold, in the day of your fast ye find
pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and
to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to
make your voice to be heard on high." (v. 3,4.) If our fasting is to help
any about making our voice to be heard on high, it must be accompanied by a
real heart searching, and seeking after God. It must include an enlarged vision
of our responsibility to be our brother's keeper. Fasting must be done
unselfishly, if it is to be done effectively. "Is not this the fast that I
have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and
to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy
house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not
thyself from thine own flesh?" (V. 6:7). When fasting is done God's way,
he has given the promise, "Then shall thy light break forth as the
morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness
shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. THEN SHALT
THOU CALL, AND THE LORD SHALL ANSWER: thou shalt cry and he shall say, Here I
am." V. 8,9.
Jesus fasted, and expected that those who
followed him would fast, but pointed out to his followers that not every fast
was acceptable with God (See Matt. 6:16-18). Those who fasted boastfully were
branded by him as HYPOCRITES. He declared that they received ALL of their
reward in the admiration of those around them, who looked only upon the outward
appearance. The fasting which he recommended was to be done privately -- a
secret transaction between the individual and God. If possible, even the
immediate family were not to be informed that a fast was in progress. When
fasting is done this way, God will hear from heaven, and will reward you
openly, by answering your prayer.
How much better to have people say,
"That man has power with God. The sick are healed, the lame walk, the dumb
speak, and the blind see when he prays," than to have them say, "That
man is sure a pius man. He fasts three days of the week. He has completed a
twenty one day fast, and is even now in the tenth day of a forty day
fast."
Some fine people have been misled into
wasted time and sacrifice, which brought no good to anyone because they became
puffed up and did their fasting with a spirit of boastfulness. It is satan's
business to spoil all that we try to do for God. Let us be watchful in this
matter, or else he will make useless one of our most effective weapons, the
weapon of self denial through fasting.
True fasting is a matter of giving God
first place over all the demands of the self life. It goes deep into the
personal life. Paul recommended that while husband and wife are each to
consider his or her body the personal property of the other, and to be subject
one to the other, seeking to please each other in every way possible, that it
is wise that the christian husband and wife set aside by agreement times when
personal gratification is to be ruled out, in order that God may be FIRST, that
he may occupy all their thoughts, that one or the other, or both together, may
give themselves to fasting and prayer. God does not condemn marriage, nor the
rightful relationship of husband and wife. But even this, which is rightfully
yours, may, like our food, be set aside for a time of seeking God, with great
profit.
The closer we walk to God, the greater
will be the power in our lives. This closeness can be achieved in one way --
"Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:8.
Self denial will many times take you out
of the company which you would find most enjoyable. No doubt, the company you
keep is good company. But if you are to have power with God, you must have
fellowship with God. Fellowship with god's people is wonderful, and is needed
by every Christian, especially those who are young in the Lord. But there is another
fellowship which is even more necessary. "Truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" I John 1:3.
Those who have power with God, and are
bringing deliverance to the sick and suffering, and winning souls to Christ,
are spending much time alone with God before they spend time with the people.
These things cannot be done in a moment.
Power is the result of WAITING UPON THE LORD. Self says hurry. But self must be
denied again. Pentecost followed ten days of waiting upon the lord. Daniel's
vision of the last days followed 23 days of waiting. Because Moses had not
learned to wait upon the Lord to know His method as well as His will, he had to
wait forty years in exile before he was ready to do the work of deliverance
which God had given him to do.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently
for him." Ps. 37:7.
Waiting is almost a lost art. Everything
is done in a hurry. So many things require only the pushing of a button, but
there is no button to push -- no magic formula -- no "royal road" --
to power with God. The man who has waited upon God commands the demon to
depart, and the tormented one is free. The man who hasn't time to
"waste" in waiting speaks the same words, seems to do the same things,
but nothing happens. Waiting upon God is not wasted time, although it many
times may seem to you as well as to others that you are doing nothing. Waiting
on God includes fasting, prayer, and just plain waiting. When we pray, we talk
to God. but when you have prayed until there seems to be nothing more to say,
then you need to wait for an answer. Let God speak to you.
Self is restless and impatient, always
clamoring for action or for attention, or for gratification. Self is mindful of
the things that are of this world, the things of the flesh. But "If any
man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF." Luke 9:23.
Will you come after Him? Will you do the
works He did? Then wait in His presence and let Him speak to your soul about
the things of self which have not yet been denied. Let His life of self denial
be your pattern, and you are well on the way to sharing in His MIRACLE-WORKING
POWER.
"If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and Follow me." Luke 9:23.
There will be very little gained by self
denial unless you also take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
By the cross I mean that load, or burden,
of pain or sorrow or sacrifice which could, if we choose, be laid aside, but
which is willingly carried or endured for the sake of others. It is that which
in the natural we WOULD lay aside, but spurred on by the realization that there
is no other way to bring salvation, deliverance or healing to the lost, the
sick and the suffering, we willingly endure OUR CROSS.
"Looking unto Jesus -- who FOR THE
JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame." Heb.
12:2. Jesus didn't have to endure the cross. Even on the night when He was
taken, He declared that He could yet, at that late hour pray to the Father, and
He would send more than twelve legions of angels, to rescue Jesus from such a
fate. (See Matt. 26:53,54.) He went to the cross because he had purposed in His
heart to fulfill the scriptures, and to deliver the race of lost and sinful men
from the double curse of sin and sickness, by bearing the stripes upon His
back, and by being sacrificed, a lamb without spot or blemish, upon THE CROSS.
Moses partook of this spirit, when he
turned away from the throne of Egypt to identify himself with his brethren, a
race of slaves, that he might through suffering and sacrifice bring deliverance
to them all. (See Heb. 11:24,26.)
Paul demonstrated the same determination,
when he left his place in the Sanhedrin to join the despised and persecuted
sect of Christians, that he might not be disobedient to the heavenly vision,
and that he might bring deliverance to the Gentiles. He was following Jesus,
BEARING HIS CROSS, when he declared, "I go bound in the spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: SAVE THAT THE
HOLY GHOST WITNESSETH in every city, saying that BONDS AND AFFLICTIONS ABIDE
ME. But none of these things MOVE ME, neither COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR unto myself,
so that I might -- testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:22-24.
When Charles G. Finney left a promising
law practice to enter the ministry -- an untried field for which he had no
special training -- he took up his cross.
But taking up the cross is not enough. It
must be taken up DAILY! It must be taken up willingly, and carried faithfully,
without fretting. It is easy to make a consecration -- to take up the cross --
during the heat of an inspiring consecration call, but many fail to take it up
again the next morning, or the next.
Christ never took a vacation from His
cross. The cross even went with Him on His vacation! Although He stepped aside
many times to rest, even then the burden was heavy upon Him.
when He sat down by the well in Samaria,
weary and hungry, to rest while His disciples went into the city to buy food,
He had time and strength to lead a soul to salvation, and to start a movement
which later brought about the great revival, which swept most of Samaria into
the Kingdom of God. (Acts 8.)
When He was confronted with one of the
greatest griefs which came into His life as a man in the flesh, the sudden and
violent death of His cousin and dear friend, John the Baptist, He thought to
slip away alone for a little time. (See Matt. 14:13,14.) But the people
observed His going, and followed Him even then. When He looked upon them, He
was filled with compassion, His own grief was forgotten, and He took up His
cross and went forth to heal their sick, and to minister to their needs.
The cross was not an accident which came
to Him at the end of life. He was born, and lived and died under the shadow of
the cross. He knew it was there all the time, but never once did He shun the
cross. Never once did He fail to take up His cross DAILY. There was never a day
that He could say, "This day is my own. I will go about my Father's
business again tomorrow." Never an experience came into His life which He
could say, "This is mine to enjoy. The people must wait until this is
over. Then I will meet them and minister to their needs again." Even in
His times of sorrow, He could not say, "My own grief is so great. It is no
more than right that NOW I should be comforted. Let them minister unto me,
now."
It was the night in which He was betrayed,
when He knew that the time had come, and that the false disciple who would
betray Him sat among those to whom He ministered, that He rose from the table
to wash the feet of His disciples, demonstrating the thing which He had said
before, "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45.
To the eyes of the world it would seem
that it was only on that dark day of Calvary that "he bearing his cross
went forth." John 19:16. But He had been bearing His cross as he went
forth among the people, poor, despised, lonely, misunderstood -- willingly,
that He might bring with Him many sons unto glory -- going about doing good and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil.
The world may not see nor understand your
cross and mine. But each of us has his own cross, God appointed, which he can
bear or not as he sees fit. This is not sickness which we are helpless to lay
aside. It is not those unpleasant circumstances of life which would be ours
whether we serve God or not. It is that which we accept willingly, at personal
sacrifice to ourselves, in order that we may be obedient to God and a blessing
to others. Have you been complimenting yourself on your cross bearing, and is
it just a matter of feeling sorry for yourself about the circumstances of your
life? Have you willingly taken upon yourself the burdens and griefs and sorrows
of others, that you might lift them, and be a blessing -- that you might bring
salvation and deliverance to those in need?
You say you want God's miracle working
power. Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to take up YOUR cross,
DAILY, and follow Jesus all the way?
If you follow Christ fully, it will mean
following Him to the place where he was filled with the Spirit, then on to the
wilderness -- to the hours of fasting and prayer, to the hours of unappreciated
service, through the misunderstandings and persecutions, the nights of watching
alone in prayer. It will mean following Him into the garden -- bearing the
burden of a lost world -- thinking someone nearby is sharing the load, only to
find that all the rest have gone to sleep. Then away to the judgement hall --
false accusations, and unjust decisions. Now away to the whipping post, and the
cat-o-nine tails -- the vinegar and the gall. It will allow no drawing back,
even from the pain and suffering of the cross.
You may say, "That sounds like losing
my life altogether."
Indeed it is. But Jesus said,
"Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his
life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mark 8:35.
This is life more abudant -- the life of
POWER! The life of real satisfaction. The life of knowing that your living has
not been in vain! Surely it is worth every sacrifice to know that we have
followed in the steps of the son of God.
Under this heading, God began to deal with
me about my pride. I had never felt that I was proud. If such a thought were
suggested to my mind, either through preaching or by direct accusation, or even
by the faithful dealing of the spirit, I, like so many others, excused myself
by calling this thing "self respect," "poise," "good
breeding," or "high-mindedness." But God called it
"SIN." Prov. 21:4
"An high look, and a proud heart . .
. is sin." Prov. 21:4.
In the searchlight of His presence, there
was no use to try to make explanations. Like John of old, I was made to realize
my utter dependence upon God, and how little my own efforts were worth. I was
made to realize, as I had never realized before, that even the best of my
efforts were so futile, that truly God must take full control of my life, and
that, before that could happen, I (my own personality, talents, knowlege, or
natural ability) MUST DECREASE in importance in my own opinion.
I have since discovered that the power and
success of any man's ministry depends upon the amount, or greatness, of God in
his life. The New Testament disciples depended entirely upon "The Lord
working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following." Mark
16:20. They claimed no power nor holiness for themselves, although at their
work of command, a man lame for forty years -- having to be carried by his
friends to a place where he might beg for his living -- was instantly healed,
so that he not only walked, but leaped and ran. (See Acts 3:2-8 and 12-16).
These were the same men who had once rejoiced, saying, "Lord, even the
devils are subject unto US through thy name." Luke 10:17. Now they have
decreased in their own sight, and are ready for an increased ministry. Hear them
say, "Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or
holiness we had made this man to walk? . . . His name through faith in his name
hath made this man strong." Acts 3:12,16.
It is only as God increases in the life of
one of His followers that power can increase, and this can never happen until
SELF is decreased.
Oh that God's ministers -- yes, and laity
as well -- could realize that it is "Not by MIGHT nor by POWER, but by my
Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. 4:6. The might and power here spoken
of refer to man's might and power -- not to God's. To the natural and not to
the supernatural. There are two sources of power. Many great church
organizations today boast of their "power," "influence," or
"popularity" in their community. Their power and influence are
derived from the magnificance of their great church plants, their immense bank
accounts, the efficiency of their organization, their numerical strength, and
their connection with the "right" people -- those with wealth and
influence in this world (though many of them do not so much as pretend ever to
have been born again by the power of God, but only have joined the church as
they would a social club.) Their fine talent, and soothing (spiritual sleep
producing) worship services, their beautiful forms, all help to make them
popular -- to give them power in a world of "religious,"
"respectable" sinners. It is from such as these that Paul has warned
us (speaking as he was inspired by the Holy Ghost) that we must separate ourselves.
"Having a form of Godliness, buy DENYING THE POWER THEREOF, from such turn
away." II Tim. 3:5. These people would be greatly displeased if God should
interupt the controlled orderliness of one of their services by speaking out as
He so often did in days gone by through one of His prophets, rebuking sin and
calling them to lives of holiness and power. They make no plans, nor leave any
room in their services, for the supernatural manifestation of the power of God.
True, there is a certain feeling of
security and power, when we have achieved the building of a fine church
edifice, have succeeded in bringing our organization to a state of good
operating efficiency, have ceased to live in constant fear of not being able to
meet our financial obligations, and are reaching the multitudes with the
gospel. None of these things are wrong. We can gratefully thank God for them
when they come our way. But all these things are nothing -- they are only a
lifeless shell -- if the SUPERNATURAL POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD is not there.
They are a mere tower of Babel, reaching up toward a sky that is too far away,
and doomed to failure and confusion, even though they appear to be enjoying
success.
How blessed to have talent, consecrated
and used for the glory of God. How good to have knowledge. What a comfort to
have proper accomodations. But the one thing that is needful is the POWER OF
GOD.
How many fine churches in our cities are
finding their auditoriums hard to fill, while men and woman stand in the rain
outside some great gospel tent, pitched on the edge of town, trying to find
some space to get inside, in order that they may see what God is doing through
His ministers who have placed the power of God first in their lives -- who have
been willing to decrease that God might increase.
"Might," as Zechariah speaks of
it, refers to the might of man, as physical effort, natural ability, talents,
forms, ceremonies, rituals, ordinances and programs.
When the supernatural is gone, man will
substitute the natural. He will substitute songs about the power of God for the
reality, laying more and more stress upon the harmony and musical flourishes,
as the real power of God decreases. Thank God for good music, but in itself it
IS NOT THE POWER OF GOD! The might and the power of natural man will never
fulfil the great comission, and bring deliverance to the multitudes. Although
God may use them to some extent, with the anointing of the Spirit upon them,
they cannot be used as a SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SPIRIT!
Even beautifully outlined sermons,
eloquently preached by men of strong personality and charm, will never get the
job done alone. After all, even preaching is not our objective. It is merely a
means to an end. If good sermonizing and beautiful preaching could get the job
done, it would have been done long ago.
Oh that men would decrease!
Oh that they would realize that without
God they are NOTHING!
If preachers could only realize that it is
not the beauty and forcefulness of their preaching, altogether, which brings
results, but the ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT upon the sermon, and God in POWER in
the man who does the preaching. People need more than to hear a sermon. They
need to FEEL SOMETHING while that sermon is being preached. It is the SPIRIT
that causes people to FEEL the preaching.
Paul was not, like some of the other
disciples, an ignorant and unlearned man. His was the best education available
in his time. His speech to the men of Athens, on Mars Hill, is still recognized
as one of the best classics of persuasive debate, and of homoletical and literary
arrangement. (See Acts 17:22-31.) His background, education, and reputation
among his fellows was such that he could declare, "I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he
might trust in the flesh, I more." Phil. 3:4. But Paul turned it all
aside. He was willing to decrease. "But what things were gain to me, those
I counted loss for Christ." Phil. 3:7. Although, as we have already seen,
Paul was capable of eloquent speech, he wrote to the Corinthians, "My
speech and my preaching was NOT with enticing words of man's wisdom, BUT IN
DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER." I Cor. 2:4. In the next verse
he tells us why he had laid aside his natural talents to depend upon the power
of God and that alone. "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in the power of God."
If the power of God were given its
rightful place today, more people's faith would stand in the power of God. Not
so many would be trusting in their CHURCH (instead of the lord) for salvation,
and not so many would be carried away by some preacher's personality, so that
they are of no use to God nor man unless they can work under His leadership.
Paul recognized the importance of the
spirit upon his preaching. "Not that we are sufficient of our selves to
THINK ANYTHING as of our selves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath
made us able ministers of the New Testament; NOT OF THE LETTER, BUT OF THE
SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLETH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE." II Cor. 3:5-6.
People today need LIFE (life cannot come
without the Spirit). God will make us able ministers -- able to bring life and
deliverance -- of the New Testament as we decrease to the extent that we place
man with all his natural ability, all that calls attention to and glorifies
man, in the background.
Although Paul was a man of more than usual
knowledge, due to his fine education and his richly varied experience, he was
willing to cast it all aside, and to declare that he was "DETERMINED not
to know ANYTHING among you save CHRIST." I Cor. 2:2.
Knowledge "puffeth up." I Cor.
1:8. Some people are of little use to God because they "know" too
much. Paul speaks of some who are puffed up at the church at Corinth. (See I
Cor. 4:18.) By this he meant they were "oversize," or needed to
decrease, or be deflated. These seemed to be fine speakers, but Paul declared
the test of what they were should be, not their speech, but POWER. "For
the Kingdom of God is not in word, BUT IN POWER." Verse 20.
How easy it is to see that this is true!
And how foolish we make ourselves appear many times, by trying to appear to be
what we are not, because of pride!
Pride takes five forms. Pride of FACE.
(How much better we DO look than those around about us!) Pride of PLACE. (Don't
ask THAT of one in my POSITION!) Pride of RACE. (We come of an excellent
family, you know, and must uphold the family honor at any cost.) Pride of PACE.
(Everyone should be able to see that we are the most capable and efficient
person available. No one else could keep up with us!) And then that last and
WORST of all the forms of pride -- pride of GRACE! Proud of our spiritual
accomplishments; proud of the length of our fasts; proud of visions and dreams
and revelations; proud of the gifts we think we possess; feeling that we must
be a special favorite with God; yes, even proud of our humility! Whatever form
our pride may have taken, puffing us up like a toy balloon, the first thing
that must be done, before we can have real power with God, is "I MUST
DECREASE."
"Whosoever exalteth himself shall be
abased; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 14:11.
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble." James 4:6.
How, then, can you hope for God to work
with you, confirming the Word with signs following, when God has said He is
RESISTING YOU!
Yes, I must decrease. Only the gold must
remain. All the dross must be taken away, and all the tin, before God can work
with it as he desires to work. And how little there is left, when the dross is
gone!
Did you ever drive across the prairie, and
note in the distance a mountain? At first sight the mountain seems very small.
But as you drive on, and come closer to the mountain, you are astonished to see
how rapidly it seems to grow. Really, the mountain isn't growing. It is still
the same size as when you first observed it. The difference is that you have
drawn closer to the mountain. This is exactly what takes place when God
"increases." He is the same God to all men. But to some people, He
seems to be a little, shriveled up, impotent God, who can scarcely be expected
to do anything that really matters. The reason for this is that these people
are living TOO FAR AWAY FROM HIM! This is why we are instructed, "Draw
nigh to God." James 4:8.
God is far away from many people because
they have allowed so many things to come in between. Some even draw nigh to God
with their mouth, while their heart is far from Him. (Matt. 15:8.) Of these He
says, "In vain do they worship me." The only way that it is possible
to draw near to God, is to begin earnestly, with all your heart to search out
those things which come between, and GET RID OF THEM!
Pride certainly will keep God at a
distance. "The proud he knoweth AFAR OFF." Psalm 188:6. God cannot
work WITH you when He is FAR FROM you. You must come to Him humbly.
Some have excused the lack of power in
their lives, by saying, "The day of miracles is past. The church is
established now, and it doesn't need miracles any more." Nowhere does the
scripture confirm any such thought. "Jesus Christ (is) the SAME,
yesterday, today and forever." Heb. 13:8.
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: BUT YOUR
INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD." Isa. 59:1,2. Don't
blame God for your lack of power. Put the blame squarely where it belongs. YOU
are too far from God, because there are too many iniquities (sins) in between.
Friends and loved ones may come between.
Jesus said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of
me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Matt. 10:37.
The cares of life may come between, as
weeds choking out a crop, making it unfruitful. Some give all their thought to
the things of this life, as though they would live here forever. God cannot
work with such as these. To be near to the heart of God, and to feel the pulse
beat of His compassion for the lost, and the suffering, one must have a
constant realization of the shortness of life, and the inevitability of
eternity.
Some are kept at a distance from God by
lack of appreciation. Praise is lacking in their lives. Real appreciation for
what God IS and what He has done, will bring forth praise. Praise brings us
into the very presence of God. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise." Ps. 100:4.
Some who read this book, may not know that
God desires to be so near to his people, as to send his HOLY SPIRIT to take up
his abode not simply near, but WITHIN the child of God. When you have opened
your heart and allowed the Spirit of God to fill you, baptize you, taking
possession of every part of your body, you will find him much nearer than ever
before. He will be a much greater God to you, than you have ever known. Then as
he is allowed to continue to dwell in you richly, teaching and guiding you day
by day, into a closer relationship with the father, and into a more pure life
of holiness, the greatness of God will become more and more apparent. He will
increase in your life.
The more you come to know Him, by walking
by his side day by day, and the more you feed upon his word, the more he will
increase in your sight. All that we know of God, we know by faith. "Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17. Feed upon
the Word of God. It is strange, but some even hope to have power with God who
pay very little heed to the word of God. He will not honor with his presence
those who dishonor his word.
It is the Word of God which will help us
to cleanse from our lives the SINS which stand between. "Wherewithal shall
a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy
word." Psalm 119:9.
In dealing with me about this matter, God
made it very plain to me that if these things were allowed to persist in my
life, if sin were tolerated and allowed to remain, God would continue to be at
a distance from me. He would be so far away, that he would be to me only the
little, meaningless God whom so many others profess to serve. The only way that
God could increase in my life to the point where he would be working through me
in power, was for me to keep everything out from between me and God. The only way
he could remain the great "I AM" in my own experience, was for me to
continually walk in the light of his word, by the power of his spirit,
DECREASING day by day, becoming more and more absorbed in Him who must
INCREASE.
He MUST increase! Not could increase. Not
might increase. He MUST increase. He must increase in glory, and majesty and
power. He must increase in control of my life.
"I am crucified with Christ.
Nevertheless I live; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME." Gal. 2:20.
"Fill me with thy spirit, till all
the world may see,
Not me, but Jesus only, shining out
through me."
"Every idle (unprofitable) word that
men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Matt. 12:36.
Nothing more quickly and thoroughly
reveals the lack of real spirituality than does foolish talking, jesting, and
IDLE WORDS. There is nothing that will more surely label the shallow Christian
as one who has no concern for others, nor any burden for the lost and suffering
than his perpetual flow of foolish talking, and nonsensical joking. Although in
the eyes of many, this seems to be a small matter, there are few spiritual
diseases more devastating, nor more contagious.
God classes foolish talking along with some
very unattractive companions, -- "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints: neither
filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, nor JESTING, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks." Eph. 5:3,4.
Jesus himself declared, "--Evil
thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, FOOLISHNESS: all these
EVIL THINGS come from within, and DEFILE the man." Mark 7:21-23.
Foolishness, then will defile a man, the same as fornication! There are many
who would never kill nor steal, but will even enter the pulpit, and publicly
and unashamed, reveal through their words that they are defiled within. I have
never yet found a man whom the Lord is using mightily for the deliverance of
the sick and sinful whose mouth is filled with foolishness. They may entertain
the people, and get a few hearty laughs in response to their jokes and
nonsense, but when it comes to really being able to bring deliverance, or to
bring a help and blessing when a real need arises, THEY HAVEN'T GOT THE GOODS!
They may even try at times to put off the usual character of lightness for a
little while, and to preach or teach about deep things, but to those who hear
them there is no ring of sincerity, no real persuasion that they speak as the
oracles of God. They are like sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
I do not wish to infer that God's people
should go around with a long face all the time, having no joy. God's people are
the happiest people in the world. God has commanded, "Rejoice
evermore." I Thes. 5:13. God's people are expected to be so happy that
they will shout, sing, clap their hands, dance, laugh, and even leap for joy. A
few scriptures which show these things are the following:
"Make a JOYFUL NOISE unto the Lord,
all ye lands. Serve the Lord with GLADNESS: come before his presence with
SINGING." Ps. 100:1,2.
"O CLAP YOUR HANDS, all ye people:
SHOUT unto God with the voice of triumph." Ps. 47:1.
"Let them praise his name in the
DANCE: let them SING praises unto him with the TIMBREL and HARP." Ps.
149:3.
"David DANCED before the Lord with
all his might." II Sam. 6:14.
"Then was our mouth filled with
LAUGHTER, and our tongue with SINGING: then said they among the heathen, The
Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are GLAD." Ps. 126:2,3.
"Rejoice in that day, and LEAP FOR
JOY." Luke 6:23.
For the Joy of the Lord is thy
strength." Neh. 8:10.
The Christian who doesn't have JOY is a
weak christian, a poor representative of the faith he claims, and will probably
soon be completely backslidden, and seeking his joy somewhere else.
This joy which brings strength is rejoicing
in the Lord. It is not rejoicing in the power of our own strength, nor of our
own wit. "But now rejoice ye in your boastings: all such rejoicing is
evil." James 3:2.
Many who are guilty of the sin of foolish,
excessive, and unprofitable talking will at first be tempted to brand me a
fanatic, and to rise to the defense of their pet sin. They will declare that it
is a mistake to take things too seriously. For this, they can find no
scriptural defense. The rescuing of the lost, and deliverance of the suffering,
is a serious matter, requiring the whole heart and mind of the one who is
consecrated to the task. Many have reserved the right to talk as much, and in
whatever manner, they choose. They would rather have their jokes, foolish
jesting and nonsense than to have the power of God in their lives. If this is
your case, God will have to go on without YOU.
God has chosen to work through the spoken
word of representatives in the world. When Jesus was here, he said to his
disciples, "The WORDS that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE
LIFE." John 6:63. What are your words?
James compares the speech coming out of
our mouths to water coming from a fountain. (James 3:10,11.) He insists that a
fountain should give forth the same kind of water all the time -- not sweet
water part of the time, and bitter water part of the time. Then he adds,
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out
of a good CONVERSATION his works with meekness of wisdom." James 3:13.
"Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING." Eph.
4:29.
Words which are not good to the use of
edifying are IDLE (vain, empty, or unprofitable) words. They are WASTED words.
God has given to the believer's WORD an authority and power which makes it
precious. Precious things should not be wasted.
Jesus said, "Whosoever (that means
you!) shall SAY unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the
sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things
which he SAITH shall come to pass, he shall have WHATSOEVER HE SAITH."
Mark 11:23. This gives to US the power to speak with authority, even to the
extent of controlling inanimate things. This is the same power which Jesus used
when he spoke to the wind and the sea, and the storm was gone. (Mark 4:39.) It
is the same power which Moses used when he spoke to the rock in the desert, and
water gushed forth. (Num. 20:8.) Joshua used the same power when he commanded
the sun and the moon to stand still. (Joshua 10:12, 13.) Jesus demonstrated the
use of this power when he spoke to the fig tree, saying, "No man eat fruit
of thee hereafter forever." (Mark 11:14.) He told the tree to die, AND it
died! It was on this occasion that he expressly delegated this same power and
authority to ANY who BELIEVE.
It is to men and women whose words can be
with such power -- whose spoken words can bring deliverance from every
oppression of satan -- salvation for the soul and healing for the body -- that
Jesus warned that IDLE, WASTED, WORDS should be brought into judgement. Words
which should have been life and deliverance! Words which should have been bread
to starving souls! But words which were nothing but chaff! In the face of a
world of dying, starving souls and suffering humanity, witholding the one
source of life and deliverance, and offering stones for bread! Sending forth
from the fountain which should give forth the PURE WATER OF LIFE a stream of
froth and foolishness, which is, if not poisonous, utterly unattractive and
unprofitable! What will you say to the judge in that day, when our deeds and
WORDS are judged by the standard of the word of God, in which we are exhorted,
"If any man SPEAK, let him SPEAK AS THE ORACLES (utterance or speech) OF
GOD." I Peter 4:11.
Those who insist upon having their
foolishness at any cost, are so like the group of young ladies seen in a vision
by a consecrated saint of God, who were too busy making daisy chains to warn
the people who were hurrying by that their steps were leading to an awful
precipice, where they would quickly fall over, and be dashed to death upon the
rocks below. This is far from the spirit of Christ, who HAD COMPASSION UPON THE
MULTITUDES.
I do not intent to infer that there is no
place for humor in the conversation of the Christian, or even in the preaching
of the Word. Many times, our speech or preaching can be humorous, and yet
sanctified. Often, a bit of humor, especially when used to illustrate a point,
can be very profitable, in arousing the attention and interest of the hearers,
and in driving home the message of the gospel, so that souls are aroused and
turned to God. So used, it is NOT idle, nor unprofitable.
The reason so many Christians speak so
many idle words, is that they speak SO MANY WORDS! They talk so much that they
have no time to think, and no time to listen to the voice of God. Foolish words
come so easily. We do not even have to think of them. We can listen to any
conversation, anywhere, and come away with a large supply of them which can be
produced by repetition. The spirit of the age is an ever increasing spirit of
levity, which makes serious thinking difficult for both sinner and saint. It is
typified by the oft repeated saying, "Don't take life too seriously. After
all you'll never get out of it alive." In such an age it takes real effort
and consecration to "Study to be quiet", and to wait before God long
enough to have words to speak which are the words of God, and which can have
power. But the wise man will do it. "He that hath knowlege, spareth his
words." Prov. 17:27. "But the mouth of fools FEEDETH ON
FOOLISHNESS." Prov. 15:14.
"In the multitude of words there
wanteth not sin." Prov. 10:19.
A fool's voice is known BY MULTITUDE OF
WORDS." Eccl. 5:3.
Holiness is necessary for power, as has
already been shown in previous chapters of this book. And holiness is not
complete until it has also taken posession of the tongue. "But as he which
hath called you is holy, so be ye holy IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION." I
Pet. 1:15.
I beseech you, brethren, for the sake of
the lost and suffering who will never find deliverance UNLESS YOU MAKE YOURSELF
READY TO TAKE IT TO THEM, give this matter your prayerful consideration.
Consecrate yourself to God afresh. Present to him YOUR BODY, a living sacrifice,
AND DO NOT FORGET NOR NEGLECT TO INCLUDE YOUR TONGUE, YOUR LIPS, YOUR
VOICE!"
"Let your speech be always with
grace, seasoned with salt." Col. 4:6.
"Keep that which is committed to thy
trust (the power to speak in God's stead, and bring deliverance), avoiding
profane (not holy) and vain (empty, worthless) babblings." I Tim. 6:20.
It is my prayer that all who read this
book will put all on the altar, and get in a place where they can carry a
burden for the lost and suffering: that they will cast aside ALL those things
which hinder the power of God in their lives. God can go on without you. But if
YOU go on with God, you must go His way. Put foolishness aside NOW! Get out of
the eddy and into the stream of God's power.
The PROMISES are for you, if you will only
believe them, meet God's conditions, and PAY THE PRICE.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1.
God has never made it a habit to use
things THAT DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. He uses those things which are yielded to
him. Things that are CONSECRATED. THINGS THAT ARE SANCTIFIED -- SET APART FOR
HIS USE. Do you want God to USE YOU? Then you must PRESENT YOUR BODY. It must
be completely yielded and surrendered to God. A body that is not completely
yielded and surrendered to God is still more or less domineered by satan, or by
self.
Many no doubt have, at special times,
after a fashion, presented their bodies to the Lord for his use in stretching
forth the borders of his Kingdom. But it is obvious from the fact that they are
not being used, that many of those who have presented themselves have NOT BEEN
ACCEPTED.
God has not refused them because laborers
are not needed. Christ himself gave us the command to pray that more laborers
would be sent forth because "THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE
LABORERS ARE FEW." Matt. 9:37.
God has not refused them because of their
handicaps, for he has often used those who seemed to have little natural
qualification. Peter and John, men greatly used of God, were "unlearned
and ignorant men" Acts 4:13. Moses was "slow of speech." "Not
many wise men after the flesh, not many noble, are called; BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN
the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and the base
things of the world and things which are despised --." I Cor. 1:27, 28.
You think you are handicapped? All are handicapped in some way.
A young man was saved, and desired to give
his testimony in a street meeting that others might know the matchless grace of
God, but he could not give his testimony because of his stammering. Yet his
love for God, and his desire to work for God drove him to his knees, and out
again before the people. God heard his cry and helped him. He became a great
preacher of the gospel and for many years was annually the chief speaker at a
large camp meeting in New York.
To be an acceptable sacrifice, your body
need not be strong nor beautiful. David Brainard, great missionary to the
American Indians in the early days, was declared to be dying of tuberculosis.
He was warned that the only chance for him to live more than a few weeks was
complete rest. But he brought what he had and made an acceptable sacrifice. He
fell on his face before God, crying, "Give me souls or take my soul!"
Then he rose up and went out to many years of fruitful ministry among the
people God had laid upon his heart, and won thousands of them to Christ.
The only reason God has refused some is
that THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE!
God makes just two requirements for an
"acceptable sacrifice".
It must be HOLY. And it must be HIS.
That which is not holy is an abomination
to God. A sacrifice brought in and offered to God for his service, which is
defiled by the habits and sins of the world is no more acceptable to him than
the pig offered upon the sacred altar of the temple at Jerusalem by Antiochuc
Epiphanes. IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
That which is HIS must be his not only on
Sunday and on prayer meeting night, but seven days and nights EVERY WEEK. It
must be presented with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. It must be given with the heart
cry, "I renounce all authority over this gift, now and forever. It is
yours to use, to set aside, or to destroy. Whatever you choose to do with it,
it is yours. If it is only a hidden ministry of prayer and personal testimony
-- YES, LORD. If it is in my own home town, that is all right. If it takes me
far across the sea, to strange lands and unfriendly peoples -- if it is to die
for my faith, at the hands of persecutors, or to live under conditions that are
worse than death -- still this body is yours. Do with it as you please. Feed it
or starve it. Chill it in the far North, or let it suffer with the heat of
Africa. Exalt it or humiliate it. It is all yours."
Acceptable consecration is like handing
God a blank paper, with your name signed at the bottom, and saying, "Fill
it in any way you want. That shall be my contract for the use of my entire
life."
This sacrifice is not complete with merely
saying yes or no to certain callings or requests of the spirit of God AFTER
THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN. It is the whole hearted determination to do the will of
God ALL MY LIFE, no matter what it may be, nor what it may cost. It is the
realization that "Ye are not your own."
You may find a small measure of power, and
a small measure of blessing, when you have made a small measure of sacrifice.
But if you would really experience the free flow of GOD'S MIRACLE WORKING
POWER, you MUST present your body, a living sacrifice, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO
GOD.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises that by these you might be PARTAKERS OF DIVINE
NATURE." I Pet. 1:4.
God IS power. There is no power for good
in this world except that power come from God. Christ himself, when he came
into this world in the flesh, declared that he derived his power from God.
"I do NOTHING of myself." John 8:28. "The Son CAN do nothing of
himself." John 5:19. "I am in the father, and the Father in me. The
Words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the FATHER THAT DWELLETH
IN ME, HE DOETH THE WORKS." John 14:10.
After making the emphatic statement of
John 14:10, Christ turned to his disciples with a promise -- "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE
DO ALSO; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my
Father." John 14:12. But, even as his own work and fruitfulness was
conditioned upon his abiding in the Father, our work and fruitfulness was
conditioned upon our abiding in him. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can
ye, except ye abide in me." Jn. 15:4. "Without ME YE can do
nothing." Jn. 15:5.
The branch is PARTAKER of the nature of
the vine. The same sap flows through it. The texture of the wood is the same.
The leaves are the same. The fruit is the same. The bark is the same. IT IS
PART OF THE VINE! So long as it remains in the vine, it can do whatever the
vine can do. But whenever it is separated -- cut off -- from the vine, it can
no longer do what the vine can do. The life giving sap ceases to flow through
the branch, and it is no longer partaker of the nature of the vine. For it is
the nature of the vine to BRING FORTH FRUIT, and that the severed branch can
never do.
Branches can be "cut off", and
they can be grafted.
We, as sinners saved by grace, are
compared in God's word to the branches of a wild olive tree, grafted in. Having
been grafted in, we become PARTAKERS of the "root and fatness" of the
olive tree. (Rom. 11:17.) If a graft is WELL MADE, so that nothing comes
between and interferes with the flow of the sap into the new limb, it very soon
comes to LOOK AND ACT like the other parts of the tree.
What a privilege to be made a partaker of
the divine nature of God -- to LOOK in such a way that those who see us will
realize that we have been with Jesus, and to ACT so much like him that the
works he did WE DO ALSO!
We can only be partakers of this divine
nature by his PROMISES, through faith in his promises. We partake of the divine
nature in its effectiveness as we exercise the gifts of the spirit, and in its
essence as we show forth the fruits of the spirit. It is in the exercising of
the gifts of the Spirit that God shows forth through us his MIRACLE WORKING
POWER. "Having then gifts differing -- whether prophecy, let us prophecy
ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION OF FAITH." Rom. 12:6. This is the secret of
whatever work we are able to do for God. It is done ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION
OF FAITH. We are partakers of the divine nature ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION OF
FAITH. Little faith, the branch is barely alive, the sap barely getting
through, a few green leaves making promise that fruit might come. More faith,
more of the divine nature, fruitfulness. Much faith, ABUNDANT LIFE, the life
giving sap flowing freely to every part of the branch, the weight of the fruit
bowing it almost to the ground!
He who is a partaker of the divine nature
of Christ will be a partaker of his nature of meekness and humility. The love
and compassion of the nature of Christ will be apparent in all the activities
and contacts of his daily life. The gentleness and kindness, the goodness, the
longsuffering, and peace. The joy in service, the self denial (temperance) --
all these will be a part of the life of the person who is a partaker of the
divine nature. These may not have been part of your nature before Christ came
to dwell in you, but when you have become a partaker of his nature, these
things will replace the former things, which were your OWN CARNAL NATURE.
Then when you are a partaker of his divine
nature, there will be a wisdom which comes from following the leading of the
Spirit. Not the wisdom which is purely natural, nor a wisdom gained merely from
observtion, but a spirit led wisdom which is incomprehensible to those who do
not understand the leading of the spirit. There will be knowledge which comes
to your mind out of the knowledge stored in the mind of God. Things which you
need to know, but have no other way of knowing, God himself can and will reveal
them unto you. There will be POWER, for God IS power! Miracles and Signs will
follow. The sick will be healed, the lame will walk, cancers will vanish at
your command. The blind will see, the deaf hear. Secrets of people's hearts
will, when necessary, be made manifest. Souls will be stirred from the sleep of
spiritual death, and brought as new creatures into the kingdom. Yea, even some
whose physical lives are gone, may be brought again from the dead, in the will
of God.
God plays no favorites. The same price of
power stands to all. And the same power is available to ALL WHO WILL PAY THE
PRICE!
To every one who, by faith, will take his
"exceeding great and precious promises" for himself, believing with
all his heart that GOD MEANT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID, thus becoming a PARTAKER OF
HIS DIVINE NATURE, the door is open to new adventures of faith, beyond your
wildest dreams!
These are the eleven POINTS. I trust that
God has made them live to you, and used them, as I have told them to you, to
bring you closer to himself and into a position to have THE MIRACLE WORKING
POWER OF GOD in your own life.
No doubt you have wondered many times,
what were those two things which were so personal. This chapter will deal with
this matter of "Personal Things". I cannot tell you what they were,
for deep in my heart, I feel the Lord would not have me to do so. But as you
read this book, read the Bible, and wait before the Lord in prayer, I am sure
that you, too, will find some "Personal Things".
I pray that you may have been inspired to
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus
Christ." Phil. 3:14. To keep on pressing, until God is working in your
life in Miracle Working Power. To strive earnestly for perfection in the sight
of God, and to be in his perfect will.
"Let us therefore, as many as be
perfect be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, GOD SHALL
REVEAL EVEN THIS UNTO YOU." Phil. 3:15.
This is his promise. You need never know
what were those things which God pointed out to me as being my OWN, PERSONAL,
pet sins, which had to be pointed out by name. But you do need to recognize
your own pet sins, which keep you from having the power God wants you to have!
I have found in my travels as an
evangelist, as well as in experiences gained in pastorates, that most people
have a pet sin which they have pampered and petted, and developed, for years.
Paul terms it, "The sin which doth so easily beset us." (Heb. 12:1.),
your "besetting sin". He also says it must be LAID ASIDE if we are to
gain the prize at the end of the race. "Let us lay aside every weight and
the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us."
Many good people, who COULD HAVE BEEN
effective Christian workers have become so discouraged by the excess weights
which they have failed to lay aside, that they have long ago dropped out of the
race, and have become skeptics, even questioning the words of Jesus, concerning
"signs following", and the power which God promised to the believer,
that he should do the works which Christ did. Many over the land today are even
now on the verge of giving up all hope of ever knowing God in the fullness of
His power. DO NOT GIVE UP. Get alone with God. Seek him earnestly, whatever the
cost may be, until he has revealed to you YOUR PET SIN. Until he has shown you
what in your life needs cleansing before you can experience the power of God.
A rich young ruler once came to Jesus,
anxious to know what was wrong with his religious experience. He was so anxious
that he literally came RUNNING, and FELL DOWN at the master's feet. When he
inquired, 'What must I do --?" Jesus replied, "one thing thou lackest
--." Christ then put his finger upon the young man's pet sin, and
instructed him how to get rid of it. (See Mk. 10:21.) As you seek the Lord,
remember that he is always faithful to put his finger on your pet sin, as he
did for the rich young ruler. Failure to place that sin upon the altar will
cause you, too, to go away GRIEVED, just as he did. When God speaks to you, no
matter how small the voice, OBEY! Get rid of that PET SIN and go on with God!
Your pet sin is the sin that you do not
want the preacher to preach about.
It is the sin for which you are always
ready to make an excuse.
It is the sin which, although you would
not admit that it is sin, you prefer to do it when you think no one is going to
find out.
It is the sin which leads you captive most
easily.
It is the sin which you are always ready
to defend.
It is the sin which causes the clouds of
doubt and remorse to cross your spiritual sky, whenever you really feel the
need to contact God.
It is the sin which you are most unwilling
to give up.
It is the sin which you think is so small
that God should scarcely be able to see it, yet so large that you are sure you
could never live without it.
Yet it is the sin which must be FLUNG
(Weymouth) aside or else you must drop out of the race.
And, last, it is the sin you are
continually trying to make yourself believe is an infirmity. Be honest with
yourself, and call it SIN! Do not call jealousy, watchfulness. If you are
covetous, don't call yourself economical. If you are guilty of the sin of
pride, don't dress it up as self respect. If you are one of those who
constantly exaggerates (stretches the truth), you may as well admit that that
which is not the truth is a LIE! Are you bound by a perverse (stubbornly wrong)
demon? Be careful, or you will pride yourself in being very firm. If your
besetting sin is lust, don't excuse yourself that you are just oversexed by
nature. Don't call criticizing, the gift of discernment, nor claim to be a good
judge of human nature. Are you fretful, and complaining? Satan will tell you
that you are nervous, and in your condition, this fretfulness can't be helped.
Come on, friend. Be honest with yourself
and God. Call it exactly what it is. If it is sin, call it sin, and get down
before God and ask him to set you free and make you an overcomer.
No doubt many excuse themselves for their
many "little" sins by pointing out, "Why everyone does that!
Remember, you can't pattern your life after other people's mistakes. How do you
know that God has not spoken to them many times about this very thing? Don't be
as guilty of disobedience as they.
And what if he didn't speak to them about
it? Remember the exhortation of Jesus to Peter when he enquired what would be
required of another disciple. "What is that to thee? FOLLOW THOU ME."
John 21:22.
Consecration has much to do with personal
things. It is the putting off, out of our lives, the hundred and one little
things that in themselves may not be sin, but which if they are allowed to
remain, take the place that Christ should take. As an example, many professing
Christians admit that they do not read their Bible as much as they should. They
declare that they are so busy, they just don't have time to read it. Yet these
same people have time to read all the daily and Sunday comic strips, many
magazines and stories. There is but one conclusion. These comics, magazines,
and stories are more important to them than the word of God. They have crowded
out Christ from his rightful place in these people's lives. Some of this
reading might be of such a nature as to be actually sinful in itself, but much
of it is rather harmless, except for the fact that it HAS CROWDED OUT CHRIST.
Thousands of those who profess to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ today
would have more power in their lives if the time they spend in listening to the
ball games and "soap operas", and "perpetual emotion
dramas" were spent listening to the voice of God, alone in the closet of
prayer. These are some of the "little foxes tht spoil the vines",
destroying the tender grapes and robbing God's people of fruitfulness.
How much more powerful would be the lives
of many, if the time they spend in front of their television sets (of course,
they wouldn't go to a theater!) watching the wrestling matches were spent down
upon their knees wrestling against satan -- against the principalities and
powers and the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual
wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:12).
It isn't always the harsh, gross sins that
stand between man and God. In fact, the sins which seem to keep most people
from the best that God has for them, are the things that "everybody
does". I'd go a little slow in saying "everybody". Those who are
carrying a burden for this lost, sin sick, Christ-rejecting, hell-bound world,
those who are doing the works which Christ promised them they should do, who
have the signs following their ministry, and who are bringing deliverance to
the needy, have long ago laid those things aside. You may be right in saying,
"NEARLY everyone in my church does it." But don't forget that while
they are doing these things, they, too, are wondering why they do not have the
MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD, and do not exercise the gifts of the spirit. Many
of the same crowd wonder if they are ready for the rapture! Many times I have
made altar calls after preaching on the coming of the Lord, for those who do
not know that they are ready for the coming of Christ. At such times I have
been surprised at the great number of people who raised their hands WHO
PROFESSED TO BE SAVED, AND EVEN SPIRIT FILLED, PEOPLE! It is evident that many
so called saints today are not even living a sufficiently victorious life to
know they are ready for the rapture. These CANNOT HAVE CONSISTENT MIRACLE
WORKING POWER! They may have a prayer answered now and then, but the times in
which we live, and the condition of the world about us demand more than that.
YOU CANNOT PATTERN YOUR LIFE AFTER THIS CROWD. There is one whose life is
worthy to be a pattern for ours. That one is JESUS.
Some may be unwilling to accept the
teachings of holiness found in this book. I have no apology to make, if you do
not. I quote Jesus all the way through the book. If you disagree with him, it
is time you had better take stock of yourself, and begin to agree with God.
"Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3. If you
expect to walk with God, and to have power in your life to work the works of
God, IT IS TIME TO AGREE WITH GOD. When you fully agree with God, this will put
you in disagreement with some others. It is better to agree with God, even if in
doing so one must disagree with others whose opinions he formerly honored and
valued. Too many today are living to please others, and self, rather than the
Lord.
There comes a time in the life of every
person when he is at the fork in the road. Men of God and of Power throughout
the ages have come to this fork in the road, and have chosen the way that
seemed hard and that brought persecution, suffering and POWER because of God's
approval. Others have come to the fork in the road, and have chosen the way
that seemed more attractive, and have found that it led to prosperity,
popularity, and destruction. Picture Lot of old, as he pondered the best course
to take. There was the watered valley, with the prosperous city of Sodom at its
center. Surely this was an easier way than to turn to the lonely rough hills.
He felt sure he could go among those people in the valley, mind his own
affairs, and not partake of their sins. And even at the end, God still
accounted him as a "righteous man", but he had no power for God. Not
even so much as to be able to rescue his own married daughters from the
destruction of Sodom, for he seemed to them as one that mocked. (Gen. 19;14).
This way is still open to those who choose
it. But thank God for the better way. It is open too. It is marked by the feet
of such men as Moses, who "By faith -- when he was come to years, refused
to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter; choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
Heb. 11;24,25.
And of Joseph, who when he came to this
same fork in the road, chose to keep himself pure, although it meant spending
years in an Oriental dungeon, with no assurance (except in his soul) that he
would ever be released. And of Daniel, who as a slave boy, declined to drink
the king's wine, and who later kept his appointment with God, although it meant
a trip to the lion's den.
These men said no to satan that they might
say yes to God. Moses weighed the pleasures and treasures of Egypt against the
call of God, and decided in favor of the call of God. He knew that the
pleasures of sin could only last for a season. He esteemed the reproach of
Christ GREATER RICHES! He had a true sense of values. How many today do not.
They seem to think the greater riches are those of Egypt -- Hollywood,
Broadway, or Wall Street. It is impossible to say yes to God until we have
first said no to the things of the world.
Those whose minds are set upon worldly
things would quickly have advised Moses that he was making a very unwise
choice, giving up so much for so little. But Moses received his reward. He
became a FRIEND OF GOD -- one who talked with God face to face. His face shone
so with the brightness of the glory of God, that the people could not even bear
to look upon his face. And working hand in hand with God, he led three million
people out of bondage into liberty, and saw them miraculously delivered time
after time, and kept by the hand of God so that "There was not one feeble
person in all their tribes." Ps. 105:37; Truly this is the reward which we
seek today -- that we might be enabled to bring salvation and deliverance to
the people. And God is giving that reward to many today who have heard his
voice and obeyed his call! Who have said no to the world and yes to God!
God, in days gone by, "Sought for a
man, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before (him) for the
land that (He) might not destroy it." Ezek. 22:30-31. God is looking for
such men today. God's holiness demands that he send judgement upon a wicked
world. Only the presence of the righteous in the world holds back the floods of
judgement. Moses stood in the gap for the children of Israel, and their lives
were spared. (See Exodus 32:10,11.) Abraham stood in the gap for Lot and his
family, when they were in Sodom. And Lot, had he gathered around him a group of
righteous people, saved from their sinfulness through his testimony and
influence, could have stood in the gap for the entire city of Sodom. (Gen.
18;23, 19:15.)
The generation in which we live is a
wicked generation, similar to those among whom Lot lived. It is a sick sin,
judgement bound generation. The wrath of God is already pronounced against ALL
who partake of the wickedness of the world in such an age as this. But God does
not take pleasure in pouring out judgment. Now as in days gone by, he looks for
A MAN -- any man, or a woman will do -- who can and will love the people enough
to make the sacrifices necessary to stand in the gap -- to hold back the storm
of judgment -- to stand with the storm beating upon his back while he raises
his voice long and loud, pleading with the people to flee from the wrath to
come.
The world is setting the stage for the
last great scene of the great story, "The History of Man upon the Earth."
Soon the curtain will rise upon that last scene, the terrible tribulation
period, when the wrath of God will be poured out without measure upon a wicked
world from which the last righteous person has been hastily snatched away. The
clouds are gathering, the lightening is flashing, the thunder rolls -- gusts of
the wind which precede the storm can be felt with ever increasing frequency and
force.
"Lift up your eyes and look on the
fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35. As never before,
it is URGENT that the servants of God should place the work of the harvest
ahead of everything else -- that they should "WORK, for the night COMETH
WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK!" It is a time when ALL THE POWER OF GOD PROVIDED
needs to be brought into use to save as much as possible of the precious
harvest before the storm breaks. This is a time when YOU AND I need to find the
gap in which God would have us stand, and STAND THERE, faithful.
How sad it was when God looked, hopefully,
for a man to stand in the gap and he had to continue his statement, "I
found NONE. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them. I have
consumed them ith the fire of My wrath."
God is still looking for MEN TO STAND IN
THE GAP! He is still looking for laborers for the harvest. He offers the same
wages -- the same rewards -- for those who will come at this last hour, as for
those who have borne the heat of the battle. All he asks is a quick response to
his call, and faithfulness in carrying it out. Will you say "YES" to
this call of God? Will you give him your ALL? Will you accept his BEST -- the
MIRACLE WORKING, SOUL SAVING POWER OF GOD, for the deliverance of the lost, the
sick and the suffering?
Much has been done for the deliverance of
humanity by holy men and women of God, from the time of righteous Abel until
now, but, as I look into God's word, and behold the mighty promises of God, and
see the miracles which have been wrought on occasions when someone DARED TO
BELIEVE, I am persuaded that it REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT GOD COULD DO WITH A MAN
OR WOMAN WHO WOULD GO ALL THE WAY WITH HIM, and never doubt in their heart! And
what immense power would be turned loose against the destroying enemy of
mankind -- satan -- if A GREAT ARMY OF MEN AND WOMEN should all together
determine to stand upon God's promises, and believe God for HIS MIRACLE WORKING
POWER!
You can be that ONE, or ONE OF THAT GREAT
ARMY!
When God looks for a MAN, will you
volunteer? WILL YOU BE THAT MAN?