That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16.
The gospel of Christ makes progress in every human agent that is consecrated to the Lord’s service. The Holy Spirit takes possession of everyone who has a willing mind, not that that person may work the Holy Spirit, but that the Holy Spirit may work its miracle through the grace that is poured upon the human agency. The goodness of God becomes a working power through a consistent life, through fervent love for Jesus, and through heaven-inspired zeal. Those who are in association with Jesus will partake of His melting love, and manifest His overflowing sympathy for souls who are yielding to Satan’s specious temptations. They will plan and study and exercise tact, in order that they may make a success of so presenting the unselfish love of Christ that sinful and impenitent hearts may be won to loyalty to Jesus, who gave His life for them….
Lose no time; confess Christ without delay. It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth that testifies of Christ. Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
To grieve the Holy Spirit which would make you a witness of Christ is a terrible thing. You know not when you may grieve the Spirit for the last time. The Holy Spirit does not work upon the human heart to compel you to give yourself to Christ, to force you to yield your conscience: but [the Spirit] shines into the chambers of the mind in a way to convict of sin, and to entice you unto righteousness. If you do not confess Christ now, the time will come when, overwhelmed with a sense of the great things that you have lost, you will make confession. But why not confess Christ now while mercy’s voice invites you?—The Youth’s Instructor, August 1, 1895
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 300
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for guidance for E and children. R
—-Please pray for Dr. T as he recovers from a mini stroke. Rose
—-I have been asked to pray for a small child about three years old, his name is Bentley.
They think he may have cancer, but are needing more tests to complete the diagnosis.
He is being raised by his grandmother. His legs hurt alot and when the doctor touched them the child screamed out in pain. B
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Dear Friends,
Before I retired from working in the court system, one of my duties was to schedule alcohol evaluation appointments for the defendants who had pled guilty to driving while intoxicated. (This consists of an interview and a test. The evaluator then sends a report with recommendations to the sentencing judge.) For years, I would try to find an appointment that fit their schedule the best, but so many defendants did not appreciate my trying to accommodate them but hassle me and argue with me so much, that I finally decided to assign the appointments on a first come first serve basis. There were a few defendants, however, who did ask if there were a better time for their appointment. Those who asked I tried to accommodate.
Occasionally, a defendant would not go for his evaluation even though I warned him what would happen if he did not. (If one failed to get the alcohol evaluation, the judge often issued a bench warrant.) Just so, our Great Redeemer has provided the way of salvation, but how seldom we appreciate it. How often we fail to reach out and accept His free gift. (Rom 6:23) The consequences of that failure are far more serious than a bench warrant!
How often we wound His Great Heart of Love by our ingratitude. He has a plan for our life. Yet, how often we grumble and complain and fight against the very One Who was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. (Isa 53) He knows what is best, yet so many times we want our own way. If we follow His plan, we will have the joys of a clear conscience and peace in our heart. If we do not, we cause ourself much grief.
May we cooperate with our Dear Saviour as He guides us on that rough and rugged path that leads to His Heavenly Kingdom, “because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7: May we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12, 13 14 May we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10
Rose
