I have been blessed and challenged through the reading of They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman. Chapter 18 speaks of the yielded and consecrated life of Walter L.Wilson. Like all people, Dr. Wilson was not always yielded to the Holy Spirit. Edman relates how Dr. Wilson lived a Christian life for many years independent of the Holy Spirit's power. His concern was that any focus on the Holy Spirit would reduce the glory of Jesus Christ. Yet we read in scripture that the Holy Spirit will not glorify Himself but magnify Christ. Jesus says in John 16:12-16: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
On page 122-123, V. Edman speaks of a sermon God used to confront and change Dr. Wilson through the renewing of his mind. "Then came January 14, 1914, Dr. James M. Gray, at that time a clergyman of the Reformed Episcopal church, and later the beloved and revered president of Moody Bible Institute, was speaking in Kansas City on Romans 12:1. Dr Wilson recalls the impact of that message: 'Leaning over the pulpit, he said, 'Have you noticed that this verse does not tell us to whom we should give our bodies? It is not the Lord Jesus Who asks for it. He has His own body. It is not the Father Who asks for it. He remains upon His throne. Another has come to earth without a body. God could have made a body for Him as he did for Jesus, but He did not do so. God gives you the privilege and the indescribable honour of presenting your bodies to the Holy Spirit, to be His dwelling place on earth. If you have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb then yours is a holy body, washed whiter than snow, and will be accepted by the Spirit when you give it. Will you do so now?''"
This was the prompting Dr. Wilson needed to give himself fully for use by the Holy Spirit. On page 123 his prayer to the Holy Spirit is recorded from his own lips: "My Lord, I have mistreated You all my Christian life. I have treated You like a servant. When I wanted You I called for You; when I was about to engage in some work I beckoned You to come and help me perform my task. I have kept You in the place of a servant. I have sought to use You only as a willing servant to help me in my self-appointed and chosen work. I shall do so no more. Just now I give You this body of mine; from my head to my feet, I give it to You. I give You my hands, my limbs, my eyes and lips, my brain; all that I am within and without, I hand over to You for You to live in it the life that You please. You may send this body to Africa, or lay it on a bed with cancer. You may blind the eyes, or send me with Your message to Tibet. You may take this body to the Eskimos, or send it to a hospital with pneumonia. It is your body from this moment on. Help yourself to it. Thank You, my Lord, I believe You have accepted it, for in Romans twelve and one You said "acceptable unto God." Thank You again, my Lord, for taking me. We now belong to each other."
I believe God is pleased for every person to pray this prayer. It does not matter if you do not yet know Jesus Christ, or have long laboured for Christ without such yielding to the Holy Spirit. Those who come to God in humility He will in no wise cast out. Won't you completely submit to the Holy Spirit today - and the next day, the day after that, and on and on into eternity? This is the only way your life will glorify Jesus Christ to the full.
16 January 2012
15 January 2012
A Shepherd's Love
It is not uncommon to see ants scurrying around the door at Calvary Chapel Sydney. As I greeted people arriving to church yesterday, I noticed an ant casualty. In trying to elude the sun, this unfortunate ant had found a spot under someone's shoe. A few minutes later I saw the ant carcass had been picked up by another ant and was carried away. My mind went to the proverb of Solomon recorded in Proverbs 6:6-8: "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, 8 provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest." One of the things ants do is pick up their fallen. When ants die, they release oleic acid during decomposition which alerts other ants to dispose of the deceased.
One tradition in the United States Marines for which they are known is they never leave their own behind. When another soldier is wounded or falls in combat, his brothers in arms with carry him to safety - even at the risk of their own lives. All these thoughts came together in a flash as I considered what our family had read in Ezekiel the night before concerning God's love towards His children. Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-16 reads, "For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day...15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
For me this ant illustration was a strong exhortation to examine myself in light of God's description of what pastoral work includes. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He feeds the flock, seeks the lost, brings back those who have been driven away, binds up the broken, and strengthens the sick. By the grace of God I desire Jesus Christ to do these things through me and others in the church. How good it is to have such sweet affection and desire of God fixed upon us! This is the same love that God desires to work in and through us to reach the world. May we submit to such love!
One tradition in the United States Marines for which they are known is they never leave their own behind. When another soldier is wounded or falls in combat, his brothers in arms with carry him to safety - even at the risk of their own lives. All these thoughts came together in a flash as I considered what our family had read in Ezekiel the night before concerning God's love towards His children. Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-16 reads, "For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day...15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
For me this ant illustration was a strong exhortation to examine myself in light of God's description of what pastoral work includes. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He feeds the flock, seeks the lost, brings back those who have been driven away, binds up the broken, and strengthens the sick. By the grace of God I desire Jesus Christ to do these things through me and others in the church. How good it is to have such sweet affection and desire of God fixed upon us! This is the same love that God desires to work in and through us to reach the world. May we submit to such love!
God Uses Pain for Good
Isn't it amazing how God uses pain and hurt for good in the sanctification process? He is like a master surgeon, willing to cut through skin, flesh, and bone to expose the cancer of selfish wickedness we were unaware of which grew within us. Unlike a surgeon, however, He allows us to remain conscious during the procedure. As we lie flat on our backs He takes a mirror, shows us the cancer, and asks us if we will admit that such filthiness exists. He has the power and expertise to easily remove the sin which remains, but He will not remove the hindrance to spiritual health, power, and communion unless we ask and submit to His loving hands. Sometimes God uses pain to show us how feeble our faith can be.
I have been reading with interest a most useful book called, They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman. The pages contain numerous testimonies of God's faithfulness to love, call, and pursue men and women He worked greatly through. On the subject of pain, Frances Ridley Havergal understood well the role God intends when people experience physical suffering. She says on page 66, "...pain is not mystery when looked at in the light of God's holiness, and in the light of Calvary...Pain, as to God's own children, is, truly and really, only blessing in disguise. It is but His chiseling, one of His graving tools, producing the likeness to Jesus for which we long. I never yet came across a suffering (real) Christian who could not thank Him for pain."
In another passage, Edman quotes concerning the life of Andrew Murray. "Then something painful happened to Mr. Murray. Miss Carmichael records that this is how he met it. He was quite for a while with his Lord, then he wrote these words for himself: 'First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, (1) By God's appointment, (2) In His keeping, (3) Under His training, (4) For His time.'" (pg. 89)
Over Christmas this past year I was stricken with a fever. Although a minor affliction compared to many, for days I was experienced pain and discomfort. I was surprised how much of my time on the sickbed I spent praying. I did not pray only from deliverance from the sickness, but I found myself praying about different people and situations God brought to mind. I smiled to myself as I thought, "I see now why you allow me to be sick, LORD. It is a way you arrest me to pray." I praised God for my condition (though I rejoiced in the eventual healing too, I assure you!) because it was as if God pulled back the veil slightly to see His hand at work - despite my suffering. Even in those seasons when God's plans are completely obscured from our vision, we can know with all certainty that God is at work in us through trials and pain. Romans 8:28 teaches us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
The chapter titled "Fraces Ridley Havergal: The Overflowing Life" closes with her poem, "Like a River Glorious:"
I have been reading with interest a most useful book called, They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman. The pages contain numerous testimonies of God's faithfulness to love, call, and pursue men and women He worked greatly through. On the subject of pain, Frances Ridley Havergal understood well the role God intends when people experience physical suffering. She says on page 66, "...pain is not mystery when looked at in the light of God's holiness, and in the light of Calvary...Pain, as to God's own children, is, truly and really, only blessing in disguise. It is but His chiseling, one of His graving tools, producing the likeness to Jesus for which we long. I never yet came across a suffering (real) Christian who could not thank Him for pain."
In another passage, Edman quotes concerning the life of Andrew Murray. "Then something painful happened to Mr. Murray. Miss Carmichael records that this is how he met it. He was quite for a while with his Lord, then he wrote these words for himself: 'First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, (1) By God's appointment, (2) In His keeping, (3) Under His training, (4) For His time.'" (pg. 89)
Over Christmas this past year I was stricken with a fever. Although a minor affliction compared to many, for days I was experienced pain and discomfort. I was surprised how much of my time on the sickbed I spent praying. I did not pray only from deliverance from the sickness, but I found myself praying about different people and situations God brought to mind. I smiled to myself as I thought, "I see now why you allow me to be sick, LORD. It is a way you arrest me to pray." I praised God for my condition (though I rejoiced in the eventual healing too, I assure you!) because it was as if God pulled back the veil slightly to see His hand at work - despite my suffering. Even in those seasons when God's plans are completely obscured from our vision, we can know with all certainty that God is at work in us through trials and pain. Romans 8:28 teaches us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
The chapter titled "Fraces Ridley Havergal: The Overflowing Life" closes with her poem, "Like a River Glorious:"
"Like a river, glorious in God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.
Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Every joy or tial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true."
(They Found the Secret, pg. 68)
13 January 2012
Strength and Power to His People
"O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!"
Psalm 68:35
The irony of this verse struck me afresh this week. It is unthinkable for a king to freely give of his wealth to his people. In the days when kings ruled over the kingdoms of the earth, they possessed resources that eclipsed the resources of their subjects. They had the power to demand taxes of goods and gold, gathered military might, and dwelt in safe strongholds. Kings had the ability to write laws and enforce justice. But all kings of the earth have one thing in common despite their differences: their reign had a beginning and an end. There were limits to their wealth, power, and glory. A king only had so much food in his storehouses or gold in his treasury. He could not give away his wealth or power freely because he only had so much. If he weakened himself greatly, someone else with eyes on the crown could easily displace him.
God is the Creator and King of all that has been made. All His resources, power, and strength are limitless. He gives strength and power to His people from infinite stores. Instead of being weakened by His gracious, generous giving, God increases His glory, influence, and power upon the world through weak human vessels. God does not withhold goodness from His people because of fear His crown or kingdom is in jeopardy: in giving strength and power to His people He further establishes His rule among the nations. In His generosity and grace we see the awesomeness of God revealed. The more God's people receive, the more God is glorified.
The example of the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS teaches us to love, extend grace, and give liberally to others as Jesus Christ has given unto us. God faithfully supplies the needs of His people not so they can become rich and live as kings on earth, but so we might glorify our king through loving others as He has loved us. We need not fear because He has promised to supply all our needs. Philippians 4:19 reads, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Instead of worrying about what we don't have, we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us by God's grace.
Kings have built enormous castles at great cost to proclaim and protect their great wealth. Elaborate and exquisite places of worship have been constructed for the worship of God. But God is more awesome than any work of man's hands; He is more awesome than the temple built by King Solomon where God placed His name. God is more awesome than the Christians He indwells who are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives strength and power to His people. Our response? Praise and bless the name of our LORD, Jesus Christ! Glorify His name throughout the earth! Give love, grace, and mercy to all as He gives, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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