Faith of Our Fathers
Faith of our fa-thers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword:
O how our hearts beat with joy
When-e'er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fa-thers! holy faith! We will
be true to thee till death!
Our fa-thers, chained in prisons dark!
Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children's fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
Faith of our fa-thers! holy faith! We will
be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fa-thers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife:
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life:
Faith of our fa-thers! holy faith! We will
be true to thee till death!
~Fredrick Faber~
_________________________
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Saviour say,
"Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered 'neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I'll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus' feet.
_______________________
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of
glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born in His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now
burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above
Each one of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission is at rest, I in my Saviour am
happy and blessed; Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
~Fanny Crosby~
_________________________
At the Cross
Alas, and did my Saviour bleed? And did my Saviour die?
Would He devote that sacred head, For such a worm as I"?
At the Cross, at the Cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith
I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
At the Cross, at the Cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith
I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man the creature's sin.
At the Cross, at the Cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith
I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
But drops of grief can never repay The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do!
At the Cross, at the Cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith
I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
~Isaac Watts~
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
The Pathway to Life In God # 4
The Pathway to Life In God # 4
V. If it die .... much fruit (John 12:24)
"The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit ... The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is of heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthly; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:45-48).
"He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hated his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (John 12:25). Also Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35).
The Spirit, in full possession of the heart, has still His two-fold work to do. It is His mission to bring to death all that is of the earth, earthy, that He may communicate the Spirit-life of the Lord from heaven. From His throne in the heart, He will work in steady progression from center to circumference, death and life alternating in degree after degree, for the Spirit must make room in us for the building up of the new creation, so that we may be no longer children tossed about but attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
We must surrender the life derived from the first Adam, if we are to share the life of the Lord from heaven.
That subtle thing we call life, which animates these human organisms, can be either of God or of the earth. This life need not be visibly wrong, but its activity can be of the creature, and not the inworking energy of the Creator. (Compare John 3:21; John 8:28; Colossians 1:29).
We must be separated by the Cross from our own life (Luke 14:26), as much as from our sins and the world-spirit, if we are to become spiritual, or of ripe age, in the kingdom of God. Otherwise we shall live a mixed life, and even our service will be partly spiritual, partly of ourselves, instead of being truly in that Spirit, and of the Spirit.
The question of the bondage of sin may have been settled and the Holy Spirit may have gained the citadel, but, through ignorance, the soul may hinder His work in gaining the circumference for the manifestation of the life of Jesus.
To cooperate with Him at the right stage if His working, will enable Him to fulfill His deepest purposes; He simply asks faithfulness up to light. In the earlier stages He uses the believer, if faithfully obedient right up to the measure of grace, even though there remains much to be dealt with in following on to know the Lord. The believer must be led on to be assimilated to the death of Jesus (Philippians 3:10), if he is to bear much fruit, for the Master Himself said: "Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth ... alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit ... he that hateth his life ... shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25). The seed they sowest is not quickened into life till it hath partaken of death (1 Corinthians 15:36).
The Word of the Cross
"The Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12).
The Spirit works through the Word of God. The thought in the original of this passage suggests a sacrificial knife. The whole being given up to God, and sealed by the indwelling of His Divine Spirit, must be dealt with through and through. His Word must pierce even to the dividing of soul and spirit.
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the earthy life, as we are able to bear it, and as He does so, to our dismay, we discover how much of our own life has been mingled with what we thought purely spiritual. He shows us the corruption of all that springs from this source, the uselessness of all our creaturely activity in the service of God, all human effort.
He drains us of all our power, strength, wisdom, and knowledge. We once thought we were capable, and had "gifts" that He could use; now failure is over all. "Ichabod" seems written upon the work of God in which we gloried, a blight is upon it, and we cry, "I have spent my strength for nothing."
In addition, our emotional life seems gone, and we are aghast at our "hardness". We think we are backsliding and seem powerless to help it; everything appears unreal to ourselves, and we almost think we are hypocrites; we would fly from our work, if we dared.
Yes, this is the pathway to the life wholly centered upon God, all must go to death, even our love which craves for response, to make room for God, and for His love which loves without response, and is pure and unselfish.
The Spirit also unveils another form of the life of nature in spiritual things, which is most subtle. We may call it "consecrated self", self with its riches of past experience, its nervous anxiety for God's glory, its desire for success, its seeking to be the greatest in God's kingdom, its craving after signs and experiences. Its ceaseless cry is "Bless me, bless me, O Lord"; it runs after spiritual enjoyment in meetings; it criticizes God's messengers; it looks down upon others not at its own point of spiritual experience; it talks over where people are spiritually; it forces "truth" before souls are able to bear it; and it under-values the work of God in the earlier degrees.
Let us note the change; once it was self for self, now it is self for God.
The Divine Spirit deals with this subtle form of the soulish life by, apparently, withdrawing all the spiritual riches once given, power in prayer, love for souls, grasp of the promises, consciousness of God's presence. He permits failure through trifles which once did not touch us, and allows the self-hood, with all its peculiar personal characteristics, to stand forth in our sight in all its hideous loathsomeness. All these things were visible to Him, but they were hidden from us, while we were occupied with our heart experience of His gracious Presence and power.
At last we know ourselves. We struggle to regain our old footing, but all seems vain and we are in despair.
The stripping is vividly picture in Job 19:6-21 and the cry of the soul in its bitter anguish in Psalm 88.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 5)
V. If it die .... much fruit (John 12:24)
"The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit ... The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is of heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthly; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:45-48).
"He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hated his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (John 12:25). Also Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35).
The Spirit, in full possession of the heart, has still His two-fold work to do. It is His mission to bring to death all that is of the earth, earthy, that He may communicate the Spirit-life of the Lord from heaven. From His throne in the heart, He will work in steady progression from center to circumference, death and life alternating in degree after degree, for the Spirit must make room in us for the building up of the new creation, so that we may be no longer children tossed about but attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
We must surrender the life derived from the first Adam, if we are to share the life of the Lord from heaven.
That subtle thing we call life, which animates these human organisms, can be either of God or of the earth. This life need not be visibly wrong, but its activity can be of the creature, and not the inworking energy of the Creator. (Compare John 3:21; John 8:28; Colossians 1:29).
We must be separated by the Cross from our own life (Luke 14:26), as much as from our sins and the world-spirit, if we are to become spiritual, or of ripe age, in the kingdom of God. Otherwise we shall live a mixed life, and even our service will be partly spiritual, partly of ourselves, instead of being truly in that Spirit, and of the Spirit.
The question of the bondage of sin may have been settled and the Holy Spirit may have gained the citadel, but, through ignorance, the soul may hinder His work in gaining the circumference for the manifestation of the life of Jesus.
To cooperate with Him at the right stage if His working, will enable Him to fulfill His deepest purposes; He simply asks faithfulness up to light. In the earlier stages He uses the believer, if faithfully obedient right up to the measure of grace, even though there remains much to be dealt with in following on to know the Lord. The believer must be led on to be assimilated to the death of Jesus (Philippians 3:10), if he is to bear much fruit, for the Master Himself said: "Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth ... alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit ... he that hateth his life ... shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25). The seed they sowest is not quickened into life till it hath partaken of death (1 Corinthians 15:36).
The Word of the Cross
"The Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12).
The Spirit works through the Word of God. The thought in the original of this passage suggests a sacrificial knife. The whole being given up to God, and sealed by the indwelling of His Divine Spirit, must be dealt with through and through. His Word must pierce even to the dividing of soul and spirit.
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the earthy life, as we are able to bear it, and as He does so, to our dismay, we discover how much of our own life has been mingled with what we thought purely spiritual. He shows us the corruption of all that springs from this source, the uselessness of all our creaturely activity in the service of God, all human effort.
He drains us of all our power, strength, wisdom, and knowledge. We once thought we were capable, and had "gifts" that He could use; now failure is over all. "Ichabod" seems written upon the work of God in which we gloried, a blight is upon it, and we cry, "I have spent my strength for nothing."
In addition, our emotional life seems gone, and we are aghast at our "hardness". We think we are backsliding and seem powerless to help it; everything appears unreal to ourselves, and we almost think we are hypocrites; we would fly from our work, if we dared.
Yes, this is the pathway to the life wholly centered upon God, all must go to death, even our love which craves for response, to make room for God, and for His love which loves without response, and is pure and unselfish.
The Spirit also unveils another form of the life of nature in spiritual things, which is most subtle. We may call it "consecrated self", self with its riches of past experience, its nervous anxiety for God's glory, its desire for success, its seeking to be the greatest in God's kingdom, its craving after signs and experiences. Its ceaseless cry is "Bless me, bless me, O Lord"; it runs after spiritual enjoyment in meetings; it criticizes God's messengers; it looks down upon others not at its own point of spiritual experience; it talks over where people are spiritually; it forces "truth" before souls are able to bear it; and it under-values the work of God in the earlier degrees.
Let us note the change; once it was self for self, now it is self for God.
The Divine Spirit deals with this subtle form of the soulish life by, apparently, withdrawing all the spiritual riches once given, power in prayer, love for souls, grasp of the promises, consciousness of God's presence. He permits failure through trifles which once did not touch us, and allows the self-hood, with all its peculiar personal characteristics, to stand forth in our sight in all its hideous loathsomeness. All these things were visible to Him, but they were hidden from us, while we were occupied with our heart experience of His gracious Presence and power.
At last we know ourselves. We struggle to regain our old footing, but all seems vain and we are in despair.
The stripping is vividly picture in Job 19:6-21 and the cry of the soul in its bitter anguish in Psalm 88.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 5)
Friday, December 16, 2016
The Pathway to Life In God # 3
The Pathway to Life In God # 3
3. Deliverance from the World
"Far be it from me to glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14)
"If ye died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world ..." (Colossians 2:20).
It was the Cross of Christ, and Paul's place with Him upon that Cross, that severed him from the world. Like Paul, we are to account that we are now 'not living in the world', for our life abides in heaven, and interests. We have naught to do with worldly aims, ambitions, and interests. We care no more for the world's aims or its applause, its conventionalities, its thralldom of fashion, its pride of life, position or power; even the Christian world, with its pride of denomination, its "views", its praise or blame,and its glorying in men. The apostle Paul would have written again today, "Each one of you saith "I". 'I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ'. Is Christ divided"" (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
In the Cross of Christ we have been separated from all the elements that make up 'this present evil world'. Yes, it is true we are in the world (John 17:15), but we are in it to live as Christ lived, for it is written, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked" (1 John 2:6). "As He is, even so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
United to the Risen Son of God, we have 'overcome the world' (1 John 5:4-5). The application in detail must be shown by the Holy Spirit to each soul He indwells, but the main secret lies in being so 'other worldly' in heart and mind, that we carry the heavenly spirit into all the duties of life.
4. Deliverance from the Bondage of the Law.
"Ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another ... Him ... raised from the dead" (Romans 7:4).
We are discharged from the claims of the law, for 'the law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made us free. By the supply of the Spirit of Jesus day by day, the requirement of the law can now be fulfilled in us, as we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).
Love (the love-life of Jesus in us) works no ill to his neighbor; 'love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10).
No theoretical 'death', no mental reckoning, will make all this true in us! Naught but a very real fellowship with the death of Christ, and a faith wrought in us by God, as He reveals to us the glorious liberty that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
IV. The Holy Spirit in Full Possession.
"God who knows the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us ... cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:8-9).
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27).
The searchlight of God has done its work; all is yielded to the Cross in obedient and trustful surrender. Deliverance has come, sometimes as a marked crisis, or else gently and imperceptibly.
Four things are at least clear:
1. The soul proves that sin has lost its power, and it is free from the thralldom of old habits (John 8:36).
2. It can say with an assurance that it had never had before, "I have been crucified with Christ." It knows it is "alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11).
3. The risen Lord has been revealed within (Galatians 1:15-16). and the soul walks in a new life that seems a foretaste of heaven.
4. The Spirit bears witness to the anointing (1 John 2:27), and gives liberty of utterance, and power in service. He Himself is the Anointing, and His mighty working will increase day by day, if the soul will follow on in implicit obedience to know the Lord.
The "manifestation of the Spirit" is given for profit (1 Corinthians 12:7), and is according to the faith and abandonment of the vessel. He takes possession of. To some He comes so gently that they are only conscious of deep peace and clear light, with liberty of utterance, access in prayer, illumination of the Word, and freedom from the bondage of sin. To others He comes after a seeking with an intensity of abandonment that accepts no apparent denial, and no limit. These take the kingdom by force, and to these souls He is able to manifest Himself in en-dynamiting power.
So much depends upon the vessel, its capacity, its depth of intensity, its apprehension, as well as the previous dealings of the Spirit, that no two experience can be quite similar.
In any case the soul is filled, and filled to overflowing. For months, maybe for years, as it walks in obedience to the light of God, it is used to others, so much so that it is apt to think it is at the summit of the spiritual life. Nevertheless; very much more lies on before, for the infilling of the Spirit is but the beginning of the real walk with God. It is His blessed work to lead us on from life in union with Christ to life with Christ in the bosom of the Father.
The soul, following on to know the Lord, at length finds a strange change in experience. The 'overflow' ceases, and the natural man with his personal characteristics,is again in evidence. For a time all these were hidden, but now it is to be seen that the soul lives partially in the life of nature, and partially in the life of God.
The impulsive man is more or less unrestrained in his impulsiveness, the sensitive man is over-sensitive, the reserved man is still painfully reserved, the strong character fights for the truth that he sees, and insists that it shall be expressed in his language. The heart is right and true, but the 'natural' man is at work for God.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with# 4)
3. Deliverance from the World
"Far be it from me to glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14)
"If ye died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world ..." (Colossians 2:20).
It was the Cross of Christ, and Paul's place with Him upon that Cross, that severed him from the world. Like Paul, we are to account that we are now 'not living in the world', for our life abides in heaven, and interests. We have naught to do with worldly aims, ambitions, and interests. We care no more for the world's aims or its applause, its conventionalities, its thralldom of fashion, its pride of life, position or power; even the Christian world, with its pride of denomination, its "views", its praise or blame,and its glorying in men. The apostle Paul would have written again today, "Each one of you saith "I". 'I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ'. Is Christ divided"" (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
In the Cross of Christ we have been separated from all the elements that make up 'this present evil world'. Yes, it is true we are in the world (John 17:15), but we are in it to live as Christ lived, for it is written, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked" (1 John 2:6). "As He is, even so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
United to the Risen Son of God, we have 'overcome the world' (1 John 5:4-5). The application in detail must be shown by the Holy Spirit to each soul He indwells, but the main secret lies in being so 'other worldly' in heart and mind, that we carry the heavenly spirit into all the duties of life.
4. Deliverance from the Bondage of the Law.
"Ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another ... Him ... raised from the dead" (Romans 7:4).
We are discharged from the claims of the law, for 'the law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made us free. By the supply of the Spirit of Jesus day by day, the requirement of the law can now be fulfilled in us, as we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).
Love (the love-life of Jesus in us) works no ill to his neighbor; 'love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10).
No theoretical 'death', no mental reckoning, will make all this true in us! Naught but a very real fellowship with the death of Christ, and a faith wrought in us by God, as He reveals to us the glorious liberty that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
IV. The Holy Spirit in Full Possession.
"God who knows the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us ... cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:8-9).
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27).
The searchlight of God has done its work; all is yielded to the Cross in obedient and trustful surrender. Deliverance has come, sometimes as a marked crisis, or else gently and imperceptibly.
Four things are at least clear:
1. The soul proves that sin has lost its power, and it is free from the thralldom of old habits (John 8:36).
2. It can say with an assurance that it had never had before, "I have been crucified with Christ." It knows it is "alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11).
3. The risen Lord has been revealed within (Galatians 1:15-16). and the soul walks in a new life that seems a foretaste of heaven.
4. The Spirit bears witness to the anointing (1 John 2:27), and gives liberty of utterance, and power in service. He Himself is the Anointing, and His mighty working will increase day by day, if the soul will follow on in implicit obedience to know the Lord.
The "manifestation of the Spirit" is given for profit (1 Corinthians 12:7), and is according to the faith and abandonment of the vessel. He takes possession of. To some He comes so gently that they are only conscious of deep peace and clear light, with liberty of utterance, access in prayer, illumination of the Word, and freedom from the bondage of sin. To others He comes after a seeking with an intensity of abandonment that accepts no apparent denial, and no limit. These take the kingdom by force, and to these souls He is able to manifest Himself in en-dynamiting power.
So much depends upon the vessel, its capacity, its depth of intensity, its apprehension, as well as the previous dealings of the Spirit, that no two experience can be quite similar.
In any case the soul is filled, and filled to overflowing. For months, maybe for years, as it walks in obedience to the light of God, it is used to others, so much so that it is apt to think it is at the summit of the spiritual life. Nevertheless; very much more lies on before, for the infilling of the Spirit is but the beginning of the real walk with God. It is His blessed work to lead us on from life in union with Christ to life with Christ in the bosom of the Father.
The soul, following on to know the Lord, at length finds a strange change in experience. The 'overflow' ceases, and the natural man with his personal characteristics,is again in evidence. For a time all these were hidden, but now it is to be seen that the soul lives partially in the life of nature, and partially in the life of God.
The impulsive man is more or less unrestrained in his impulsiveness, the sensitive man is over-sensitive, the reserved man is still painfully reserved, the strong character fights for the truth that he sees, and insists that it shall be expressed in his language. The heart is right and true, but the 'natural' man is at work for God.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with# 4)
Monday, December 12, 2016
The Pathway to Life in God # 2
The Pathway to Life in God # 2
The soul saved from wrath, reconciled to God, yet ignorant of the full message of the Cross, has again to be convicted of a deeper need. It is the work of the Spirit to fight against all that is of the old life, and bring it to the Cross. Accordingly He deals with the soul at this point by,
1. Convicting of the bondage of sin.
"I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14).
"The fleshly mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor can be; and they whose life is in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8).
2. Convicting of the need of the Spirit's entire possession.
"Know ye not ... that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be ... the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (Romans 7:8-9).
3. By creating the intense cry for deliverance.
"I know that ... in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. O wretched man ... who shall deliver me?" (Romans 7:128).
The Spirit reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the utter uselessness of the life lived after the flesh. He creates that furnace of intense desire which makes the soul prepared to let Him do His work, and have His way at all costs. He spares no means to bring God's purchased possession to the definite decision of taking God's side against the old life, and making the unreserved, irrevocable surrender to God, that is necessary for liberty.
So to speak, the believer must sign the death warrant and agree that death with Christ shall be made really true in experience. Here he reaches,
Calvary, the place of Deliverance
"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him ... that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin, for he that hath died is justified from sin" (Romans 6:6-7).
The Holy Spirit leads the soul back to Calvary, to learn that it has been crucified with Christ, therefore it is free from the bondage, and claims of sin. In Him it has died to that wherewith it was holden (Romans 7:6), and because the Holy One took the curse, and carried the accursed ones to the tree in His own Person, it may now receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
III. The Holy Spirit's deliverance and its results
"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).
1. Deliverance from the power of sin.
"We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?" (Romans 6:2).
"The death that He died, He died unto sin once for all ... even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign" (Romans 6:10-12).
"As we stand upon the Word of God, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus will keep us free from the old bondage, enable us to live unto God, and walk in newness of life.
2. Deliverance from the desires of the flesh.
"Walk by the Spirit, ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh ... they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh" (Galatians 5:16-24).
By the flesh, Paul generally denotes that which is earthly in man, as opposed to that which is spiritual. They that are of Christ, and determined to be Christ's without reserve, have crucified the flesh with all its likes, and strong desires. They live by the Spirit, and seek to let their steps be guided by the Spirit.
If we have been really crucified with Christ, we can easily surrender anything for our brother's sake, for whom Christ died (Romans 14:15, 21), and lay aside all undue indulgence of the natural appetites and renounce habits which are not betting the temple of God.
The life of God in the soul has a much closer connection with models of living than is generally supposed. If Christians, instead of indulging and pampering the appetite for meats and drinks, would be satisfied with simple nourishment, and with that quantity which is adequate to all the purposes of nature, what abundant blessings would result to body and mind.
If the soul is in earnest the Spirit will deal with all details of action, in making provision for the flesh, and with many things in the manner of life of those who desire to be wholly under His control.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 3)
The soul saved from wrath, reconciled to God, yet ignorant of the full message of the Cross, has again to be convicted of a deeper need. It is the work of the Spirit to fight against all that is of the old life, and bring it to the Cross. Accordingly He deals with the soul at this point by,
1. Convicting of the bondage of sin.
"I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14).
"The fleshly mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor can be; and they whose life is in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8).
2. Convicting of the need of the Spirit's entire possession.
"Know ye not ... that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be ... the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (Romans 7:8-9).
3. By creating the intense cry for deliverance.
"I know that ... in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. O wretched man ... who shall deliver me?" (Romans 7:128).
The Spirit reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the utter uselessness of the life lived after the flesh. He creates that furnace of intense desire which makes the soul prepared to let Him do His work, and have His way at all costs. He spares no means to bring God's purchased possession to the definite decision of taking God's side against the old life, and making the unreserved, irrevocable surrender to God, that is necessary for liberty.
So to speak, the believer must sign the death warrant and agree that death with Christ shall be made really true in experience. Here he reaches,
Calvary, the place of Deliverance
"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him ... that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin, for he that hath died is justified from sin" (Romans 6:6-7).
The Holy Spirit leads the soul back to Calvary, to learn that it has been crucified with Christ, therefore it is free from the bondage, and claims of sin. In Him it has died to that wherewith it was holden (Romans 7:6), and because the Holy One took the curse, and carried the accursed ones to the tree in His own Person, it may now receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
III. The Holy Spirit's deliverance and its results
"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).
1. Deliverance from the power of sin.
"We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?" (Romans 6:2).
"The death that He died, He died unto sin once for all ... even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign" (Romans 6:10-12).
"As we stand upon the Word of God, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus will keep us free from the old bondage, enable us to live unto God, and walk in newness of life.
2. Deliverance from the desires of the flesh.
"Walk by the Spirit, ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh ... they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh" (Galatians 5:16-24).
By the flesh, Paul generally denotes that which is earthly in man, as opposed to that which is spiritual. They that are of Christ, and determined to be Christ's without reserve, have crucified the flesh with all its likes, and strong desires. They live by the Spirit, and seek to let their steps be guided by the Spirit.
If we have been really crucified with Christ, we can easily surrender anything for our brother's sake, for whom Christ died (Romans 14:15, 21), and lay aside all undue indulgence of the natural appetites and renounce habits which are not betting the temple of God.
The life of God in the soul has a much closer connection with models of living than is generally supposed. If Christians, instead of indulging and pampering the appetite for meats and drinks, would be satisfied with simple nourishment, and with that quantity which is adequate to all the purposes of nature, what abundant blessings would result to body and mind.
If the soul is in earnest the Spirit will deal with all details of action, in making provision for the flesh, and with many things in the manner of life of those who desire to be wholly under His control.
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 3)
Thursday, December 8, 2016
The Pathway to Life In God # 1
[A little different than hymns, etc., but I feel that this is most important as it honors our Heavenly Father, our Holy Spirit and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Pray you will enjoy. This is rather long and I will post in installments for your ease.]
The Pathway To Life In God
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
This booklet is in the form of a Bible study, which is aimed at presenting in some degree our death with Christ on the subjective side of the Holy Spirit's dealings with the individual. In a preface to the first edition, Mrs. Penn-Lewis wrote, "There is no desire to dogmatise or to systematise, but only to show in the main the experimental pathway. The Holy Spirit is not bound, and leads along this road in a thousand different ways. The writer earnestly prays all to whom the booklet is not of present use, to put it aside until God in His own time and way becomes His own interpreter.
There is so much loose thinking and teaching abroad today concerning the experimental side of the Christian life, that the sober, biblical approach of these pages is recommended to all, who are anxious to see His working in and through them. May His abundant blessing be upon this message as it is scattered far and wide.
The Pathway to Life in God
"Circumcision is nothing; neither is uncircumcision; but a new creature. And they who press forward in this path, peace be on them" (Galatians 6:15-16).
"Thou wilt show me the path of life" (Psalm 16:11).
The Work of Redemption
1. Why a new life was needed.
Our condition by nature.
"Death passed unto all men, for that all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"Ye were dead through your trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
2. How a new life became possible
By the gift of the only begotten Son of God.
"God hath sent His only ... Son... that we might live" (1 John 4:9)
By the atoning death for sinners of the Son of God.
"Him Who knew no sin ... made to be sin on our behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
"Whom God purposed to be a propitiation" (Romans 3:25).
"That... He should taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9)
By the death with Him of all for whom He died.
"One died for all, therefore all died" (2 Corinthians 5:14)
"His own self carried up our sins ... to the tree, that we having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24)
By the union with Him in life,of all who died in Him.
"Joined to another, even to Him Who was raised from the dead" (Romans 7:4)
"Raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him" (Colossians 2:12)
"Quickened us together with Christ ... raised us with Him" (Ephesians 2:5-6)
By His taking back to God all who live in Him.
"Christ died ... that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:13)
By becoming the source of life to all believers.
"Every one that taketh hold of the Son, taketh hold of life" (1 John 5:12)
"If, when ... enemies ... reconciled to God by death of His Son ...saved, by sharing in His life" (Romans 5:11)
By giving the Holy Spirit as the imparter of life.
"Jesus ... exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this" (Acts 2:33).
"The Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus ... shall quicken" (Romans 8:11)
The Holy Son of God took our nature upon Him, carried it to the Cross, and died in the sinner's stead. The only way back to God is through that Cross as the gate to life.
After such a costly plan of redemption, wrought out by the Triune God "How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13)
The Subjective Work of the Holy Spirit
"He saved us by the washing of the new birth, and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit shed on us by Jesus our Life-giver" (Titus 3 :4-6)
"The Spirit of truth ...shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:13-14)
The Holy Spirit is given to apply to sinners the finished work of Christ, and is now moving over a world lying in the shadow of death, seeking to work into each soul individually, first the death, and then the Risen Life of Christ.
Let us trace:
1. How the Holy Spirit deals with souls dead.
As the convicting Spirit,
"He ... .will convict the world in respect of sin" (John 16:8)
"The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:23)
As the revealing Spirit,
"He shall testify of Me" (John 15:26)
"Behold, the Lamb of God which beareth away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)
"Having made peace through the blood of His Cross" (Colossians 1:20).
Calvary - the place of Life
"I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all men unto Myself" (John 12:32).
"The Word of the Cross ... is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18).
The Spirit draws the sin-burdened soul to the place called Calvary. The message of life through the death of Another received into the heart, gives peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit breatheth ... thou canst not tell whence ... whither ... so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).
"It is the Spirit that quickeneth" (John 5:24).
The Experience of the New-born Soul
"One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).
"Begotten again ... of incorruptible seed" (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:21).
The breath of God quickens the dead soul; access to God is restored, and the way is open to the Throne of grace... "Behold he prayeth" (Acts 9:11). The Spirit of adoption prompts the cry "Father". The Bible is like a new book, for the new-born soul longs for the spiritual milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2), that it may grow thereby. There is joy and peace in believing, new desires, new hopes, and the soul seems to walk in an entirely new world.
But a babe in Christ is yet "carnal" in some degrees, because of the limit of its spiritual power of apprehension, but it will become "spiritual" more rapidly, if it learns clearly the basis of the new life in Christ, as taught by Paul to the Roman converts. For the Scripture does not separate with a long interval the forgiveness of sins, and that vital fellowship with the death of Christ which delivers from the bondage of sin. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it ... for ye are yet carnal" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). And to the Romans, "Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3).
II. How the Holy Spirit deals with believers.
"The desire of the flesh fights against the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit fights against the flesh; and its variance tends to hinder you from doing what you wish to do. But they who are Christ's have: crucified the flesh ...let your steps be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:17, 24, 25).
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 2)
The Pathway To Life In God
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
This booklet is in the form of a Bible study, which is aimed at presenting in some degree our death with Christ on the subjective side of the Holy Spirit's dealings with the individual. In a preface to the first edition, Mrs. Penn-Lewis wrote, "There is no desire to dogmatise or to systematise, but only to show in the main the experimental pathway. The Holy Spirit is not bound, and leads along this road in a thousand different ways. The writer earnestly prays all to whom the booklet is not of present use, to put it aside until God in His own time and way becomes His own interpreter.
There is so much loose thinking and teaching abroad today concerning the experimental side of the Christian life, that the sober, biblical approach of these pages is recommended to all, who are anxious to see His working in and through them. May His abundant blessing be upon this message as it is scattered far and wide.
The Pathway to Life in God
"Circumcision is nothing; neither is uncircumcision; but a new creature. And they who press forward in this path, peace be on them" (Galatians 6:15-16).
"Thou wilt show me the path of life" (Psalm 16:11).
The Work of Redemption
1. Why a new life was needed.
Our condition by nature.
"Death passed unto all men, for that all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"Ye were dead through your trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
2. How a new life became possible
By the gift of the only begotten Son of God.
"God hath sent His only ... Son... that we might live" (1 John 4:9)
By the atoning death for sinners of the Son of God.
"Him Who knew no sin ... made to be sin on our behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
"Whom God purposed to be a propitiation" (Romans 3:25).
"That... He should taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9)
By the death with Him of all for whom He died.
"One died for all, therefore all died" (2 Corinthians 5:14)
"His own self carried up our sins ... to the tree, that we having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24)
By the union with Him in life,of all who died in Him.
"Joined to another, even to Him Who was raised from the dead" (Romans 7:4)
"Raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him" (Colossians 2:12)
"Quickened us together with Christ ... raised us with Him" (Ephesians 2:5-6)
By His taking back to God all who live in Him.
"Christ died ... that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:13)
By becoming the source of life to all believers.
"Every one that taketh hold of the Son, taketh hold of life" (1 John 5:12)
"If, when ... enemies ... reconciled to God by death of His Son ...saved, by sharing in His life" (Romans 5:11)
By giving the Holy Spirit as the imparter of life.
"Jesus ... exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this" (Acts 2:33).
"The Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus ... shall quicken" (Romans 8:11)
The Holy Son of God took our nature upon Him, carried it to the Cross, and died in the sinner's stead. The only way back to God is through that Cross as the gate to life.
After such a costly plan of redemption, wrought out by the Triune God "How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13)
The Subjective Work of the Holy Spirit
"He saved us by the washing of the new birth, and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit shed on us by Jesus our Life-giver" (Titus 3 :4-6)
"The Spirit of truth ...shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:13-14)
The Holy Spirit is given to apply to sinners the finished work of Christ, and is now moving over a world lying in the shadow of death, seeking to work into each soul individually, first the death, and then the Risen Life of Christ.
Let us trace:
1. How the Holy Spirit deals with souls dead.
As the convicting Spirit,
"He ... .will convict the world in respect of sin" (John 16:8)
"The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:23)
As the revealing Spirit,
"He shall testify of Me" (John 15:26)
"Behold, the Lamb of God which beareth away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)
"Having made peace through the blood of His Cross" (Colossians 1:20).
Calvary - the place of Life
"I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all men unto Myself" (John 12:32).
"The Word of the Cross ... is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18).
The Spirit draws the sin-burdened soul to the place called Calvary. The message of life through the death of Another received into the heart, gives peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit breatheth ... thou canst not tell whence ... whither ... so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).
"It is the Spirit that quickeneth" (John 5:24).
The Experience of the New-born Soul
"One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).
"Begotten again ... of incorruptible seed" (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:21).
The breath of God quickens the dead soul; access to God is restored, and the way is open to the Throne of grace... "Behold he prayeth" (Acts 9:11). The Spirit of adoption prompts the cry "Father". The Bible is like a new book, for the new-born soul longs for the spiritual milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2), that it may grow thereby. There is joy and peace in believing, new desires, new hopes, and the soul seems to walk in an entirely new world.
But a babe in Christ is yet "carnal" in some degrees, because of the limit of its spiritual power of apprehension, but it will become "spiritual" more rapidly, if it learns clearly the basis of the new life in Christ, as taught by Paul to the Roman converts. For the Scripture does not separate with a long interval the forgiveness of sins, and that vital fellowship with the death of Christ which delivers from the bondage of sin. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it ... for ye are yet carnal" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). And to the Romans, "Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3).
II. How the Holy Spirit deals with believers.
"The desire of the flesh fights against the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit fights against the flesh; and its variance tends to hinder you from doing what you wish to do. But they who are Christ's have: crucified the flesh ...let your steps be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:17, 24, 25).
~Jessie Penn-Lewis~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Hymns/quotes of Praise and Worship
Hymns/quotes of Praise and Worship
Just As I Am
Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not. To rid my soul of one dark blot,To Thee Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God. I come! I come!
Just as I am, though tossed a bout, With many a conflict, many a doubt.
Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, pour wretched, blind; Sight riches healing of mind.
Yea all, I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
~Charlotte Elliott~
____________________________
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the
morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and Mighty! God in Three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee. Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubin and Seraphim
falling down before Thee. Who wert, and art, and ever more shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Tho' the darkness hide Thee, Tho' the eye of
sinful man Thy glory may not see. Only Thou art holy;
there is none beside Thee. Perfect in power,in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall
praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, Holy, Holy!
Merciful and Mighty! God in Three persons, blessed Trinity!
~Reginald Heber~
________________________
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
~Thomas Chisholm~
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.
Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
_____________________________
I Love To Tell The Story
~J. W. Van DeVenter~
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender. Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.
Chorus:
I surrender all, I surrender all, I surrender all; I surrender all;
All to Thee my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.
___________________
"Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me."
"I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man."
"Faith makes all things possible ... love makes all things easy."
"We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people."
"I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of me."
"Character is what a man is in the dark."
"God never made a promise that was too good to be true."
"There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things."
"No man can resolve himself into Heaven."
"A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have."
~D. L. Moody~
Just As I Am
Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not. To rid my soul of one dark blot,To Thee Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God. I come! I come!
Just as I am, though tossed a bout, With many a conflict, many a doubt.
Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, pour wretched, blind; Sight riches healing of mind.
Yea all, I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
~Charlotte Elliott~
____________________________
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the
morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and Mighty! God in Three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee. Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubin and Seraphim
falling down before Thee. Who wert, and art, and ever more shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Tho' the darkness hide Thee, Tho' the eye of
sinful man Thy glory may not see. Only Thou art holy;
there is none beside Thee. Perfect in power,in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall
praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, Holy, Holy!
Merciful and Mighty! God in Three persons, blessed Trinity!
~Reginald Heber~
________________________
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
~Thomas Chisholm~
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.
Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
_____________________________
I Love To Tell The Story
~J. W. Van DeVenter~
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender. Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.
Chorus:
I surrender all, I surrender all, I surrender all; I surrender all;
All to Thee my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.
___________________
"Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me."
"I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man."
"Faith makes all things possible ... love makes all things easy."
"We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people."
"I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of me."
"Character is what a man is in the dark."
"God never made a promise that was too good to be true."
"There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things."
"No man can resolve himself into Heaven."
"A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have."
~D. L. Moody~
Monday, November 28, 2016
Hymns/Quotes of Praise and Worship
Hymns/Quotes of Praise and Worship
I Come To The Garden Alone
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks,and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
______________________
Shall We Gather At the River?
Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have tred,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.
Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.
At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Saviour's face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.
Soon we'll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
__________________________
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The king of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread's a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never:
Good shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever.
__________________________
"Outside of Christ, I am weak: in Christ, I am strong."
~Watchmen Nee~
__________________________
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
~Billy Sunday~
_________________________________
"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."
~Francis Chan~
______________________
"He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he's moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain."
~Randy Alcorn~
________________________
"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
__________________________
"One touch of Christ is worth a lifetime of struggling."
~A. B. Simpson~
_________________________
"I'm not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me - he's got judo I never heard of. But he can't handle the One to whom I'm joined; he can't handle the One to whom I'm united; he can't handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature."
~A. W. Tozer~
I Come To The Garden Alone
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks,and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
______________________
Shall We Gather At the River?
Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have tred,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.
Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.
At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Saviour's face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.
Soon we'll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
__________________________
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The king of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread's a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never:
Good shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever.
__________________________
"Outside of Christ, I am weak: in Christ, I am strong."
~Watchmen Nee~
__________________________
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
~Billy Sunday~
_________________________________
"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."
~Francis Chan~
______________________
"He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he's moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain."
~Randy Alcorn~
________________________
"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
__________________________
"One touch of Christ is worth a lifetime of struggling."
~A. B. Simpson~
_________________________
"I'm not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me - he's got judo I never heard of. But he can't handle the One to whom I'm joined; he can't handle the One to whom I'm united; he can't handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature."
~A. W. Tozer~
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Hymns of Praise and Worship
Nearer My God to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee.
Refrain:
There let the way appear, steps unto Heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Then, with my walking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly.
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Saviour's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
____________________________
Hallelujah Chorus
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
___________________________
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain:
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
________________________
23rd Psalm
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
____________________________
Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: the best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake:
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall be more brightly shine.
_________________________
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee.
Refrain:
There let the way appear, steps unto Heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Then, with my walking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly.
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Refrain:
There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Saviour's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
____________________________
Hallelujah Chorus
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
___________________________
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour, all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain:
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
________________________
23rd Psalm
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
____________________________
Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: the best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake:
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall be more brightly shine.
_________________________
Friday, November 18, 2016
Hymns of Praise and Worship
Jesus, the Lord, our Saviour
~Nicolaus Zinendorf~
"Jesus, the Lord, our righteousness!
Our beauty Thou, our glorious dress!
Midst flaming worlds in this arrayed,
With joy shall we lift up the head.
Bold shall we stand in that great day,
For who ought to our charge shall lay,
While by Thy blood absolved we are
From sin and guilt, from shame and fear?
Thus Abraham, the friend of God,
Thus all the saints redeemed with blood,
Saviour of sinners, Thee proclaim,
And all their boast is in Thy name.
This spotless robe the same appears
In new creation's endless years;
No age can change its glorious hue;
The robe of Christ is ever new.
Till we behold Thee on Thy throne,
In Thee we boast, in Thee alone,
Our beauty this, our glorious dress,
Jesus the Lord, our righteousness.
_____________________________
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
________________________
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the Cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
______________________________
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won't let satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
won't let satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hid it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
~Nicolaus Zinendorf~
"Jesus, the Lord, our righteousness!
Our beauty Thou, our glorious dress!
Midst flaming worlds in this arrayed,
With joy shall we lift up the head.
Bold shall we stand in that great day,
For who ought to our charge shall lay,
While by Thy blood absolved we are
From sin and guilt, from shame and fear?
Thus Abraham, the friend of God,
Thus all the saints redeemed with blood,
Saviour of sinners, Thee proclaim,
And all their boast is in Thy name.
This spotless robe the same appears
In new creation's endless years;
No age can change its glorious hue;
The robe of Christ is ever new.
Till we behold Thee on Thy throne,
In Thee we boast, in Thee alone,
Our beauty this, our glorious dress,
Jesus the Lord, our righteousness.
_____________________________
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
________________________
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the Cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
______________________________
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won't let satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
won't let satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hid it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
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