Murray Absolute Surrender

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Murray - Absolute Surrender

contents

Ch 01. Absolute Surrender.........................................................................................................................1Ch 02. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love........................................................................................................7

Ch 03. Separated unto the Holy Spirit.....................................................................................................1Ch 0. !eter"s #epentan$e........................................................................................................................1%Ch 0&. '(possible )ith *an+ !ossible )ith ,od.....................................................................................22

Ch 0-. )ret$hed (an that ' a(/...........................................................................................................2-

Ch 07. Havin beun in the Spirit............................................................................................................30

Ch 0. ept by the !o)er of ,od............................................................................................................3&Ch 0%. e are the bran$hes.......................................................................................................................2

Absolute Surrenderby Andrew Murray

CONTENTS

1. Absolute Surrender.2. "The Fruit of the Spirit is Love."3. Separated unto the ol! Spirit.# $eter%s &epentan'e.(. )*possible +ith ,an# $ossible +ith -od.. O +ret'hed *an that ) a*/0. avin beun in the Spirit.. ept b! the $o+er of -od.4. 5e are the bran'hes.

Ch 01. Absolute Surrender

"And 6en7hadad the 8in of S!ria athered all his host toether9 and there +ere thirt! and t+o 8ins+ith hi*# and horses# and 'hariots9 and he +ent up and besieed Sa*aria# and +arred aainst it. Andhe sent *esseners to Ahab 8in of )srael into the 'it!# and said unto hi*# Thus saith 6enhadad# Th!silver and th! old is *ine: th! +ives also and th! 'hildren# even the oodliest# are *ine. And the 8inof )srael ans+ered and said# ,! lord# ; 8in# a''ordin to th! sa!in# ) a* thine and all that ) have" e have heard it before#

but +e need to hear it ver! definitel!7the 'ondition of -od%s blessin is absolute surrender of all intois hands. $raise -od/ )f our hearts are +illin for that# there is no end to +hat -od +ill do for us# andto the blessin -od +ill besto+.

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Absolute surrender7let *e tell !ou +here ) ot those +ords. ) used the* *!self often# and !ou haveheard the* nu*erous ti*es. 6ut on'e# in S'otland# ) +as in a 'o*pan! +here +e +ere tal8in aboutthe 'ondition of Christ%s Chur'h# and +hat the reat need of the Chur'h and of believers is. There +asin our 'o*pan! a odl! Christian +or8er +ho has *u'h to do in trainin other +or8ers for Christ# and) as8ed hi* +hat he +ould sa! +as the reat need of the Chur'h7the *essae that ouht to beprea'hed. e ans+ered ver! ?uietl! and si*pl! and deter*inedl!9

"Absolute surrender to -od is the one thin."

The +ords stru'8 *e as never before. And that *an bean to tell ho+# in the Christian +or8ers +ith+ho* he had to deal# he finds that if the! are sound on that point# the! are +illin to be tauht andhelped# and the! al+a!s i*prove. >hereas# others +ho are not sound there ver! often o ba'8 andleave the +or8. The 'ondition for obtainin -od%s full blessin is absolute surrender to i*.

And no+# ) desire b! -od%s ra'e to ive to !ou this *essae7that !our -od in heaven ans+ers thepra!ers +hi'h !ou have offered for blessin on !ourselves and for blessin on those around !ou b! thisone de*and9 Are !ou +illin to surrender !ourselves absolutel! into is hands@ >hat is our ans+er to

be@ -od 8no+s there are hundreds of hearts +ho have said it# and there are hundreds *ore +ho lon

to sa! it but hardl! dare to do so. And there are hearts +ho have said it# but +ho have !et *iserabl!failed# and +ho feel the*selves 'onde*ned be'ause the! did not find the se'ret of the po+er to livethat life. ,a! -od have a +ord for all/

Let *e sa!# first of all# that -od 'lai*s it fro* us.

-O EB$ECTS 5O& S&&ENE&

5es# it has its foundation in the ver! nature of -od. -od 'annot do other+ise. >ho is -od@ e is theFountain of life# the onl! Sour'e of eDisten'e and po+er and oodness. Throuhout the universe thereis nothin ood but +hat -od +or8s. -od has 'reated the sun# the *oon# the stars# the flo+ers# thetrees# and the rass. Are the! not all absolutel! surrendered to -od@ o the! not allo+ -od to +or8 inthe* ust +hat e pleases@ >hen -od 'lothes the lil! +ith its beaut!# is it not !ielded up# surrendered#iven over to -od as e +or8s in it its beaut!@ And -od%s redee*ed 'hildren# oh# 'an !ou thin8 that-od 'an do is +or8 if there is onl! half or a part of the* surrendered@ -od 'annot do it. -od is life#love# blessin# po+er# and infinite beaut!# and -od delihts in 'o**uni'atin i*self to ever! 'hild

+ho is prepared to re'eive i*. 6ut ah/ this one la'8 of absolute surrender is ust the thin thathinders -od. And no+ e 'o*es# and as -od# e 'lai*s it.

5ou 8no+ in dail! life +hat absolute surrender is. 5ou 8no+ that ever!thin has to be iven up to itsspe'ial# definite obe't and servi'e. ) have a pen in *! po'8et# and that pen is absolutel! surrenderedto the one +or8 of +ritin. That pen *ust be absolutel! surrendered to *! hand if ) a* to +riteproperl! +ith it. )f another holds it partl!# ) 'annot +rite properl!. This 'oat is absolutel! iven up to*e to 'over *! bod!. This buildin is entirel! iven up to reliious servi'es. And no+# do !ou eDpe'tthat in !our i**ortal bein# in the divine nature that !ou have re'eived b! reeneration# -od 'an +or8

is +or8# ever! da! and ever! hour# unless !ou are entirel! iven up to i*@ -od 'annot. The te*pleof Solo*on +as absolutel! surrendered to -od +hen it +as dedi'ated to i*. And ever! one of us is ate*ple of -od# in +hi'h -od +ill d+ell and +or8 *ihtil! on one 'ondition7absolute surrender toi*. -od 'lai*s it# -od is +orth! of it# and +ithout it -od 'annot +or8 is blessed +or8 in us.

-od not onl! 'lai*s it# but -od +ill +or8 it i*self.

-O ACCO,$L)SES 5O& S&&ENE&

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) a* sure there is *an! a heart that sa!s9 "Ah# but that absolute surrender i*plies so *u'h/" So*eonesa!s9 "Oh# ) have passed throuh so *u'h trial and sufferin# and there is so *u'h of the self7life stillre*ainin. ) dare not fa'e entirel! ivin it up be'ause ) 8no+ it +ill 'ause so *u'h trouble andaon!."

Alas/ alas/ that -od%s 'hildren have su'h thouhts of i*# su'h 'ruel thouhts. ) 'o*e +ith a *essae

to those +ho are fearful and anDious. -od does not as8 !ou to ive the perfe't surrender in !ourstrenth# or b! the po+er of !our +ill: -od is +illin to +or8 it in !ou. o +e not read9 "it is -od that

+or8eth in !ou both to +ill and to do of his ood pleasure" ill !ou not 'o*e and trust-od to +or8 in !ou that absolute surrender to i*self 5es# blessed be -od/ e 'an do it# and e +illdo it.

-od not onl! 'lai*s it and +or8s it# but -od a''epts it +hen +e brin it to i*.

-O ACCE$TS 5O& S&&ENE&

-od +or8s it in the se'ret of our heart: -od ures us b! the hidden po+er of is ol! Spirit to 'o*e

and spea8 it out# and +e have to brin and !ield to i* that absolute surrender. 6ut re*e*ber# +hen!ou 'o*e and brin -od that absolute surrender# it *a!# as far as !our feelins or !our 'ons'iousnesso# be a thin of reat i*perfe'tion. 5ou *a! doubt and hesitate and sa!9

")s it absolute@"

6ut# oh# re*e*ber there +as on'e a *an to +ho* Christ had said9 ")f thou 'anst believe# all thins arepossible to hi* that believeth"


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believe# help thou *ine unbelief" e +ant to et help# ever! one of us# so

that in our dail! life -od +ill be 'learer to us# -od +ill have the riht pla'e# and be "all in all." And if +eare to have that throuh life# let us bein no+ and loo8 a+a! fro* ourselves and loo8 up to -od. Letea'h believe7 )# a poor +or* on earth and a tre*blin 'hild of -od# full of failure# sin# and fear# bo+here# and no one 8no+s +hat passes throuh *! heart. ) si*pl! sa!# "Oh -od# ) a''ept 5our ter*s. )have pleaded for blessin on *!self and others. ) have a''epted 5our ter*s of absolute surrender."

>hile !our heart sa!s that in deep silen'e# re*e*ber there is a -od present that ta8es note of it# and+rites it do+n in is boo8. There is a -od present +ho at that ver! *o*ent ta8es possession of !ou.5ou *a! not feel it# !ou *a! not realiGe it# but -od ta8es possession if !ou +ill trust i*. -od not onl!'lai*s it and +or8s it and a''epts it +hen ) brin it# but -od *aintains it.

-O ,A)NTA)NS 5O& S&&ENE&

That is the reat diffi'ult! +ith *an!. $eople sa!9 ") have often been stirred at a *eetin or at a'onvention# and ) have 'onse'rated *!self to -od.

6ut it has passed a+a!. ) 8no+ it *a! last for a +ee8 or for a *onth# but it fades a+a!. After a ti*e it isall one."

6ut listen/ )t is be'ause !ou do not believe +hat ) a* no+ oin to tell !ou and re*ind !ou of. >hen-od has beun the +or8 of absolute surrender in !ou# and +hen -od has a''epted !our surrender#then -od holds i*self bound to 'are for it and to 8eep it.

>ill !ou believe that@

)n this *atter of surrender# there are9 -od and 171 a +or*# -od the everlastin and o*nipotent

ehovah. >or*# +ill !ou be afraid to trust !ourself to this *iht! -od no+@ -od is +illin. o !ou notbelieve that e 'an 8eep !ou 'ontinuall!# da! b! da!# and *o*ent b! *o*ent@

,o*ent b! *o*ent )%* 8ept in is love:

,o*ent b! *o*ent )%ve life fro* above.

)f -od allo+s the sun to shine on !ou *o*ent b! *o*ent# +ithout inter*ission# +ill -od not let is

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life shine on !ou ever! *o*ent@ And +h! have !ou not eDperien'ed it@ 6e'ause !ou have not trusted-od for it# and !ou do not surrender !ourself absolutel! to -od in that trust.

A life of absolute surrender has its diffi'ulties. ) do not den! that. 5es# it has so*ethin far *ore thandiffi'ulties9 it is a life that +ith *en is absolutel! i*possible. 6ut b! the ra'e of -od# b! the po+er of-od# b! the po+er of the ol! Spirit d+ellin in us# it is a life to +hi'h +e are destined# and a life thatis possible for us# praise -od/ Let us believe that -od +ill *aintain it.

So*e of !ou have read the +ords of that aed saint +ho# on his ninetieth birthda!# told of all -od%soodness to hi*7 ) *ean -eore ,uller. >hat did he sa! he believed to be the se'ret of his happinessand of all the blessin +hi'h -od had iven hi*@ e said he believed there +ere t+o reasons. The one

+as that he had been enabled b! ra'e to *aintain a ood 'ons'ien'e before -od da! b! da!. The other+as that he +as a lover of -od%s >ord. Ah# !es# a ood 'ons'ien'e is 'o*plete obedien'e to -od da! b!da!# and fello+ship +ith -od ever!da! in is >ord and pra!er7that is a life of absolute surrender.

Su'h a life has t+o sides7on one side# absolute surrender to +or8 +hat -od +ants !ou to do: on theother side# to let -od +or8 +hat e +ants to do.

First# to do +hat -od +ants !ou to do.

-ive !ourselves up absolutel! to the +ill of -od. 5ou 8no+ so*ethin of that +ill: not enouh# far fro*all. 6ut sa! absolutel! to the Lord -od9 "6! 5our ra'e ) desire to do 5our +ill in ever!thin# ever!*o*ent of ever! da!." Sa!9 "Lord -od# not a +ord upon *! tonue but for 5our lor!. Not a*ove*ent of *! te*per but for 5our lor!. Not an affe'tion of love or hate in *! heart but for 5ourlor!# and a''ordin to 5our blessed +ill."

So*eone sa!s9 "o !ou thin8 that possible@"

) as8# >hat has -od pro*ised !ou# and +hat 'an -od do to fill a vessel absolutel! surrendered toi*@ Oh# -od +ants to bless !ou in a +a! be!ond +hat !ou eDpe't. Fro* the beinnin# ear has notheard# neither has the e!e seen# +hat -od has prepared for the* that +ait for i* EN 5O S&&ENE&

This absolute surrender to -od brins +onderful blessins.

>hat Ahab said to his ene*!# in 6enhadad7",! lord# ; 8in# a''ordin to th! +ord ) a* thine# andall that ) have"+ill +e not sa! to our -od and lovin Father@ )f +e do sa! it# -od%s blessin +ill 'o*eupon us. -od +ants us to be separate fro* the +orld. >e are 'alled to 'o*e out fro* the +orld that

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hates -od. Co*e out for -od# and sa!9 "Lord# an!thin for 5ou." )f !ou sa! that +ith pra!er# and spea8that into -od%s ear# e +ill a''ept it# and e +ill tea'h !ou +hat it *eans.

) sa! aain# -od +ill bless !ou. 5ou have been pra!in for blessin. 6ut do re*e*ber# there *ust beabsolute surrender. At ever! tea7table !ou see it. >h! is tea poured into that 'up@ 6e'ause it is e*pt!#and iven up for the tea. 6ut put in8 or vinear or +ine into it# and +ill the! pour the tea into the

vessel@ And 'an -od fill !ou# 'an -od bless !ou if !ou are not absolutel! surrendered to i*@ e

'annot. Let us believe -od has +onderful blessins for us if +e +ill but stand up for -od and sa!# be it+ith a tre*blin +ill# !et +ith a believin heart9

"O -od# ) a''ept 5our de*ands. ) a* 5ours and all that ) have. Absolute surrender is +hat *! soul!ields to 5ou b! divine ra'e."

5ou *a! not have su'h stron# 'lear feelins of surrender as !ou +ould li8e to have# but hu*ble!ourselves in is siht# and a'8no+lede that !ou have rieved the ol! Spirit b! !our self7+ill#self'onfiden'e# and self7effort. 6o+ hu*bl! before i* in the 'onfession of that# and as8 i* to brea8the heart and to brin !ou into the dust before i*. Then# as !ou bo+ before i*# ust a''ept -od%stea'hin that in !our flesh "there d+elleth no ood thin" e have the Spirit of -od d+ellin +ithin us.>e 'o*e to -od 'onfessin that# and praisin -od for it# and !et 'onfessin ho+ +e have rieved theSpirit. And then +e bo+ our 8nees to the Father to as8 that e +ould strenthen us +ith all *iht b!the Spirit in the inner *an# and that e +ould fill us +ith is *iht! po+er. And as the Spirit revealsChrist to us# Christ 'o*es to live in our hearts forever# and the self7life is 'ast out.

Let us bo+ before -od in hu*ilit!# and in that hu*ilit! 'onfess before i* the state of the +holeChur'h. No +ords 'an tell the sad state of the Chur'h of Christ on earth. ) +ish ) had +ords to spea8

+hat ) so*eti*es feel about it. ust thin8 of the Christians around !ou. ) do not spea8 of no*inalChristians# or of professin Christians# but ) spea8 of hundreds and thousands of honest# earnestChristians +ho are not livin a life in the po+er of -od or to is lor!. So little po+er# so little devotionor 'onse'ration to -od# so little per'eption of the truth that a Christian is a *an utterl! surrendered to-od%s +ill/ Oh# +e +ant to 'onfess the sins of -od%s people around us# and to hu*ble ourselves.

>e are *e*bers of that si'8l! bod!. The si'8liness of the bod! +ill hinder us and brea8 us do+n#unless +e 'o*e to -od. >e *ust# in 'onfession# separate ourselves fro* partnership +ith +orldliness#

+ith 'oldness to+ard ea'h other. >e *ust ive ourselves up to be entirel! and +holl! for -od.

o+ *u'h Christian +or8 is bein done in the spirit of the flesh and in the po+er of self/ o+ *u'h+or8# da! b! da!# in +hi'h hu*an ener!7our +ill and our thouhts about the +or87is 'ontinuall!

*anifested# and in +hi'h there is little +aitin upon -od and upon the po+er of the ol! Spirit/ Let us*a8e a 'onfession. 6ut as +e 'onfess the state of the Chur'h# and the feebleness and sinfulness of +or8for -od a*on us# let us 'o*e ba'8 to ourselves. >ho is there +ho trul! lons to be delivered fro* thepo+er of the self7life# +ho trul! a'8no+ledes that it is the po+er of self and the flesh# and +ho is

+illin to 'ast all at the feet of Christ@ There is deliveran'e.

) heard of one +ho had been an earnest Christian# and +ho spo8e about the "'ruel" thouht ofseparation and death. 6ut !ou do not thin8 that# do !ou@ >hat are +e to thin8 of separation and

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death@ This7death +as the path to lor! for Christ. For the o! set before i* e endured the 'ross.The 'ross +as the birthpla'e of is everlastin lor!. o !ou love Christ@ o !ou lon to be in Christ#and !et not li8e i*@ Let death be to !ou the *ost desirable thin on earthdeath to self# andfello+ship +ith Christ. Separation7do !ou thin8 it a hard thin to be 'alled to be entirel! free fro* the

+orld# and b! that separation to be united to -od and is love# b! separation to be'o*e prepared forlivin and +al8in +ith -od ever! da!@ Surel! one ouht to sa!9 "An!thin to brin *e to separation#to death# for a life of full fello+ship +ith -od and Christ."

Co*e and 'ast this self7life and flesh7life at the feet of esus. Then trust i*. o not +orr! !ourselves+ith tr!in to understand all about it# but 'o*e in the livin faith that Christ +ill 'o*e into !ou +iththe po+er of is death and the po+er of is life. Then the ol! Spirit +ill brin the +hole Christ7Christ 'ru'ified and risen and livin in lor!7into !our heart.

Ch 02. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

) +ant to loo8 at the fa't of a life filled +ith the ol! Spirit *ore fro* the pra'ti'al side. ) +ant to sho+ho+ this life +ill reveal itself in our dail! +al8 and 'ondu't.

nder the Old Testa*ent !ou 8no+ the ol! Spirit often 'a*e upon *en as a divine Spirit ofrevelation to reveal the *!steries of -od# or for po+er to do the +or8 of -od. 6ut e did not d+ell inthe* then. No+# *an! ust +ant the Old Testa*ent ift of po+er for +or8. 6ut# the! 8no+ ver! little ofthe Ne+ Testa*ent ift of the ind+ellin Spirit# ani*atin and rene+in the +hole life. >hen -odives the ol! Spirit# is reat obe't is the for*ation of a hol! 'hara'ter. )t is a ift of a hol! *ind andspiritual disposition# and +hat +e need# above ever!thin else# is to sa!9

") *ust have the ol! Spirit san'tif!in *! +hole inner life if ) a* reall! to live for -od%s lor!. "

5ou *iht sa! that +hen Christ pro*ised the Spirit to the dis'iples# e did so that the! *iht havepo+er to be +itnesses. True# but then the! re'eived the ol! Spirit in su'h heavenl! po+er and realit!that e too8 possession of their +hole bein at on'e and so fitted the* as hol! *en for doin the +or8

+ith po+er as the! had to do it. Christ spo8e of po+er to the dis'iples# but it +as the Spirit fillin their+hole bein that +or8ed the po+er.

) +ish no+ to d+ell upon the passae found in -alatians (9229

"The fruit of the Spirit is love."

>e read that "Love is the fulfillin of the la+"%


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the ol! Spirit ets real possession of the life# the heart +ill be filled +ith real# divine# universal love.

One of the reat 'auses +h! -od 'annot bless is Chur'h is the la'8 of love. >hen the bod! is divided#there 'annot be strenth. )n the ti*e of their reat reliious +ars# +hen olland stood out so nobl!aainst Spain# one of their *ottoes +as9 "nit! ives strenth." )t is onl! +hen -od%s people stand asone bod!# one before -od in the fello+ship of love# one to+ard another in deep affe'tion# one beforethe +orld in a love that the +orld 'an see7it is onl! then that the! +ill have po+er to se'ure the

blessin +hi'h the! as8 of -od. &e*e*ber that if a vessel that ouht to be one +hole is 'ra'8ed into*an! pie'es# it 'annot be filled. 5ou 'an ta8e one part of the vessel and dip out a little +ater into that#

but if !ou +ant the vessel full# the vessel *ust be +hole. That is literall! true of Christ%s Chur'h. And ifthere is one thin +e *ust pra! for still# it is this7Lord# *elt us toether into one b! the po+er of theol! Spirit. Let the ol! Spirit# +ho at $ente'ost *ade the* all of one heart and one soul# do is

blessed +or8 a*on us. $raise -od# +e 'an love ea'h other in a divine love# for "the fruit of the Spiritis love." -ive !ourselves up to love# and the ol! Spirit +ill 'o*e: re'eive the Spirit# and e +ill tea'h

!ou to love *ore.

-O )S LOHE

No+# +h! is it that the fruit of the Spirit is love@ 6e'ause -od is love h!@ 6e'ause# as ) said# -od 8eeps nothin for i*self. Fro* eternit! -od had is onl!

beotten Son# and the Father ave i* all thins# and nothin that -od had +as 8ept ba'8. "-od islove."

One of the old Chur'h fathers said that +e 'annot better understand the Trinit! than as a revelation ofdivine lovethe Father# the lovin One# the Fountain of love7the Son# the beloved one# the &eservoir oflove# in +ho* the love +as poured out7and the Spirit# the livin love that united both and thenoverflo+ed into this +orld. The Spirit of $ente'ost# the Spirit of the Father# and the Spirit of the Son islove. And +hen the ol! Spirit 'o*es to us and to other *en# +ill e be less a Spirit of love than e isin -od@ )t 'annot be: e 'annot 'hane is nature. The Spirit of -od is love# and "the fruit of theSpirit is love."

,AN)N NEES LOHE

>h! is that so@ That +as the one reat need of *an8ind# that +as the thin +hi'h Christ%s rede*ption'a*e to a''o*plish9 to restore love to this +orld.

>hen *an sinned# +h! +as it that he sinned@ Selfishness triu*phed7he souht self instead of -od.And ust loo8/ Ada* at on'e beins to a''use the +o*an of havin led hi* astra!. Love to -od hadone: love to *an +as lost. Loo8 aain9 of the first t+o 'hildren of Ada*# the one be'o*es a *urdererof his brother.

oes that not tea'h us that sin had robbed the +orld of love@ Ah/ +hat a proof the histor! of the +orldhas been of love havin been lost/ There *a! have been beautiful eDa*ples of love even a*on the

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heathen# but onl! as a little re*nant of +hat +as lost. One of the +orst thins sin did for *an +as to*a8e hi* selfish# for selfishness 'annot love.

The Lord esus Christ 'a*e do+n fro* heaven as the Son of -od%s love. "-od so loved the +orld thate ave is onl! beotten Son"


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A reat *an! of us tr! hard at ti*es to love. >e tr! to for'e ourselves to love# and ) do not sa! that is+ron: it is better than nothin. 6ut the end of it is al+a!s ver! sad. ") fail 'ontinuall!#" *an! *ust'onfess. And +hat is the reason@ The reason is si*pl! this7the! have never learned to believe anda''ept the truth that the ol! Spirit 'an pour -od%s love into their heart. That blessed teDt has often

been li*ited/7"The love of -od is shed abroad in our hearts" h! is a la*b al+a!s entle@ 6e'ause that is its nature. oes it 'ost the la*b an! trouble to be entle@No. >h! not@ )t is so beautiful and entle. as a la*b to stud! to be entle@ No. >h! does that 'o*e

so eas!@ )t is its nature. And a +olf7+h! does it 'ost a +olf no trouble to be 'ruel# and to put its fansinto the poor la*b or sheep@ 6e'ause that is its nature. )t does not have to su**on up its 'ourae: the+olfnature is. there.

And ho+ 'an ) learn to love@ ) 'annot learn to love until the Spirit of -od fills *! heart +ith -od%s love#and ) bein to lon for -od%s love in a ver! different sense fro* +hi'h ) have souht it so selfishl!7as a'o*fort# a o!# a happiness# and a pleasure to *!self. ) +ill not learn it until ) realiGe that "-od is love#"and to 'lai* and re'eive it as an ind+ellin po+er for selfsa'rifi'e. ) +ill not love until ) bein to seethat *! lor!# *! blessedness# is to be li8e -od and li8e Christ# in ivin up ever!thin in *!self for*! fello+7*en. ,a! -od tea'h us this/ Oh# the divine blessedness of the love +ith +hi'h the ol!Spirit 'an fill our hearts/ "The fruit of the Spirit is love."

LOHE )S -O%S -)FT

On'e aain ) as8# >h! *ust this be so@ And *! ans+er is9 >ithout this +e 'annot live the dail! life oflove.

o+ often# +hen +e spea8 about the 'onse'rated life# +e have to spea8 about te*per# and people haveso*eti*es said9 "5ou *a8e too *u'h of te*per."

) do not thin8 +e 'an *a8e too *u'h of it. Thin8 for a *o*ent of a 'lo'8 and of +hat its hands *ean.The hands tell *e +hat is +ithin the 'lo'8# and if ) see that the hands stand still# or that the handspoint +ron# or that the 'lo'8 is slo+ or fast# ) sa! that so*ethin inside the 'lo'8 is not +or8inproperl!. And te*per is ust li8e the revelation that the 'lo'8 ives of +hat is +ithin. Te*per is a proof

+hether the love of Christ is fillin the heart or not. o+ *an! there are +ho find it easier in 'hur'h#

or in pra!er *eetin# or in +or8 for the Lord7dilient# earnest +or87to be hol! and happ! than in thedail! life +ith +ife and 'hildren. o+ *an! find it easier to be hol! and happ! outside the ho*e thanin it/ >here is the love of -od@ )n Christ. -od has prepared for us a +onderful rede*ption in Christ#and e lons to *a8e so*ethin supernatural of us. ave +e learned to lon for it# as8 for it# andeDpe't it in its fullness@

Then there is the tonue/ >e so*eti*es spea8 of the tonue +hen +e tal8 of the better life# and therestful life# but ust thin8 +hat libert! *an! Christians ive to their tonues. The! sa!9

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") have a riht to thin8 +hat ) li8e."

>hen the! spea8 about ea'h other# +hen the! spea8 about their neihbors# +hen the! spea8 aboutother Christians# ho+ often there are sharp re*ar8s/ -od 8eep *e fro* sa!in an!thin that +ould beunlovin. -od shut *! *outh if ) a* not to spea8 in tender love. 6ut +hat ) a* sa!in is a fa't. o+often sharp 'riti'is*# sharp ud*ent# hast! opinion# unlovin +ords# se'ret 'onte*pt of ea'h other#

se'ret 'onde*nation of ea'h other are found a*on Christians +ho are banded toether in +or8/ Oh#ust as a *other%s love 'overs her 'hildren and delihts in the* and has the tenderest 'o*passion +iththeir foibles or failures# so there ouht to be in the heart of ever! believer a *otherl! love to+ard ever!

brother and sister in Christ. ave !ou ai*ed at that@ ave !ou souht it@ ave !ou ever pleaded for it@esus Christ said9 "As ) have loved !ou that. !e also love one another"


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vessel# but if a vessel is to be full# it *ust be unbro8en. And the 'hildren of -od# +herever the! 'o*etoether# to +hatever 'hur'h or *ission or so'iet! the! belon# *ust love ea'h other intensel!# or theSpirit of -od 'annot do is +or8. >e tal8 about rievin the Spirit of -od b! +orldliness and ritualis*and for*alit! and error and indifferen'e. 6ut# ) tell !ou# the one thin above ever!thin that rieves-od%s Spirit is this la'8 of love. Let ever! heart sear'h itself# and as8 that -od *a! sear'h it.

O& LOHE SO>S -O%S $O>E&

>h! are +e tauht that "the fruit of the Spirit is love"@ 6e'ause the Spirit of -od has 'o*e to *a8e ourdail! life an eDhibition of divine po+er and a revelation of +hat -od 'an do for is 'hildren.

)n the se'ond and the fourth 'hapters of A'ts# +e read that the dis'iples +ere of one heart and of onesoul. urin the three !ears the! had +al8ed +ith Christ# the! never had been in that spirit. All Christ%stea'hin 'ould not *a8e the* of one heart and one soul. 6ut the ol! Spirit 'a*e fro* heaven andshed the love of -od in their hearts# and the! +ere of one heart and one soul. The sa*e ol! Spirit that

brouht the love of heaven into their hearts *ust fill us# too. Nothin less +ill do. Even as Christ did#one *iht prea'h love for three !ears +ith the tonue of an anel# but that +ould not tea'h an! *an tolove unless the po+er of the ol! Spirit should 'o*e upon hi* to brin the love of heaven into hisheart.

Thin8 of the Chur'h at lare. >hat divisions/ Thin8 of the different bodies. Ta8e the ?uestion ofholiness# ta8e the ?uestion of the 'leansin blood# ta8e the ?uestion of the baptis* of the Spirit7+hatdifferen'es are 'aused a*on dear believers b! su'h ?uestions/ That there are differen'es of opiniondoes not trouble *e. >e do not have the sa*e 'onstitution and te*pera*ent and *ind. 6ut ho+ oftenhate# bitterness# 'onte*pt# separation# and unlovinness are 'aused b! the holiest truths of -od%s

>ord/ Our do'trines# our 'reeds# have been *ore i*portant than love. >e often thin8 +e are valiantfor the truth# and +e foret -od%s 'o**and to spea8 the truth in love. And it +as so in the ti*e of the&efor*ation bet+een the Lutheran and Calvinisti' 'hur'hes. >hat bitterness there +as in reard to'o**union# +hi'h +as *eant to be the bond of union a*on all believers/ And so# throuh the aes#the ver! dearest truths of -od have be'o*e *ountains that have separated us.

)f +e +ant to pra! in po+er# and if +e +ant to eDpe't the ol! Spirit to 'o*e do+n in po+er# and if +eindeed +ant -od to pour out is Spirit# +e *ust enter into a 'ovenant +ith -od that +e +ill love oneanother +ith a heavenl! love.

Are !ou read! for that@ Onl! that is true love that is lare enouh to ta8e in all -od%s 'hildren# the *ostunlovin and unlovable and un+orth! and unbearable and tr!in. )f *! vo+7absolute surrender to-od7+as sin'ere# then it *ust *ean absolute surrender to the divine love to fill *e. ) *ust be a servantof love to love ever! 'hild of -od around *e. "The fruit of the Spirit is love."

Oh# -od did so*ethin +onderful +hen e ave Christ# at is riht hand# the ol! Spirit to 'o*edo+n out of the heart of the Father and is everlastin love. And ho+ +e have deraded the ol!Spirit into a *ere po+er b! +hi'h +e have to do our +or8/ -od forive us/ Oh# that the ol! Spirit*iht be held in honor as a po+er to fill us +ith the ver! life and nature of -od and of Christ/

C&)ST)AN >O& &EI)&ES LOHE

"The fruit of the Spirit is love." ) as8 on'e aain# >h! is it so@ And the ans+er 'o*es9 That is the onl!po+er in +hi'h Christians reall! 'an do their +or8. 5es# it is love that +e need. >e +ant not onl! lovethat is to bind us to ea'h other# but +e +ant a divine love in our +or8 for the lost around us. Oh# do +enot often underta8e a reat deal of +or87ust as *en underta8e +or8 of philanthrop!7fro* a naturalspirit of 'o*passion for our fello+7*en@ o +e not often underta8e Christian +or8 be'ause our

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*inister. or friend 'alls us to it@ And do +e not often perfor* Christian +or8 +ith a 'ertain Geal but+ithout havin had a baptis* of love@

$eople often as89 ">hat is the baptis* of fire@"

) have ans+ered *ore than on'e9 ") 8no+ no fire li8e the fire of -od# the fire of everlastin love that'onsu*ed the sa'rifi'e on Calvar!." The baptis* of love is +hat the Chur'h needs# and to et that +e

*ust bein at on'e to et do+n on our fa'es before -od in 'onfession# and plead9

"Lord# let love fro* heaven flo+ do+n into *! heart. ) a* ivin up *! life to pra! and live as one +hohas# iven hi*self up for the everlastin love to d+ell in and fill hi*."

Ali# !es# if the love of -od +ere in our hearts# +hat a differen'e it +ould *a8e/ There are hundreds ofbelievers +ho sa!9

") +or8 for Christ# and ) feel ) 'ould +or8 *u'h harder# but ) do not have the ift. ) do not 8no+ ho+ or+here to bein. ) do not 8no+ +hat ) 'an do."

6rother# sister# as8 -od to baptiGe !ou +ith the Spirit of love# and love +ill find its +a!. Love is a fire

that +ill burn throuh ever! diffi'ult!. 5ou *a! be a sh!# hesitatin person# +ho 'annot spea8 +ell# butlove 'an burn throuh ever!thin. -od fills us +ith love/ >e need it for our +or8.

5ou have read *an! a tou'hin stor! of love eDpressed# and !ou have said# o+ beautiful/ ) heard onenot lon ao. A lad! had been as8ed to spea8 at a &es'ue o*e +here there +ere a nu*ber of poor

+o*en. As she arrived there and passed b! the +indo+ +ith the *atron# she sa+ a +ret'hed +o*ansittin outside# and as8ed9

">ho is that@"

The *atron ans+ered9 "She has been into the house thirt! or fort! ti*es# and she has al+a!s onea+a! aain. Nothin 'an be done +ith her# she is so lo+ and hard." 6ut the lad! said9 "She *ust 'o*ein."

The *atron then said9 ">e have been +aitin for !ou# and the 'o*pan! is asse*bled# and !ou haveonl! an hour for the address."

The lad! replied9 "No# this is of *ore i*portan'e": and she +ent outside +here the +o*an +as sittinand said9

",! sister# +hat is the *atter@"

") a* not !our sister#" +as the repl!.

The the lad! laid her hand on her# and said9 "5es# ) a* !our sister# and ) love !ou": and so she spo8e

until the heart of the poor +o*an +as tou'hed.

The 'onversation lasted so*e ti*e# and the 'o*pan! +as +aitin patientl!. lti*atel!# the lad!brouht the +o*an into the roo*. There +as the poor# +ret'hed# deraded 'reature# full of sha*e.She +ould not sit on a 'hair# but sat do+n on a stool beside the spea8er%s seat# and she let her leanaainst her# +ith her ar*s around the poor +o*an%s ne'8# +hile# she spo8e to the asse*bled people.

And that love tou'hed the +o*an%s heart: she had found one +ho reall! loved her# and that love avea''ess to the love of esus.

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$raise -od/ there is love on earth in the hearts of -od%s 'hildren: but oh# that there +ere *ore/

O -od# baptiGe our *inisters +ith a tender love# and our *issionaries# our 6ible readers# our +or8ers#and our !oun *en%s and !oun +o*en%s asso'iations. Oh# that -od +ould bein +ith us no+# and

baptiGe us +ith heavenl! love/

LOHE )NS$)&ES )NTE&CESS)ON

On'e aain. )t is onl! love that 'an fit us for the +or8 of inter'ession.

) have said that love *ust fit us for our +or8. o !ou 8no+ +hat the hardest and the *ost i*portant+or8 is that has to be done for this sinful +orld@ )t is the +or8 of inter'ession# the +or8 of oin to-od and ta8in ti*e to la! hold of i*.

A *an *a! be an earnest Christian# an earnest *inister# and a *an *a! do ood# but alas/ ho+ oftenhe has to 'onfess that he 8no+s little of +hat it is to tarr! +ith -od. ,a! -od ive us the reat ift ofan inter'essor! spirit# a spirit of pra!er and suppli'ation/ Let *e as8 !ou in the na*e of esus not tolet a da! pass +ithout pra!in for all saints# and for all -od%s people.

) find there are Christians +ho thin8 little of that. ) find there are pra!er unions +here the! pra! forthe *e*bers# and not for all believers. ) pra! !ou# ta8e ti*e to pra! for the Chur'h of Christ. )t is rihtto pra! for the heathen# as ) have alread! said. -od help us to pra! *ore for the*. )t is riht to pra! for*issionaries and for evanelisti' +or8 and for the un'onverted. 6ut $aul did not tell people to pra! forthe heathen or the un'onverted. $aul told the* to pra! for believers. o *a8e this !our first pra!erever! da!9 "Lord# bless Th! saints ever!+here."

The state of Christ%s Chur'h is indes'ribabl! lo+. $lead for -od%s people that e +ould visit the*#plead for ea'h other# plead for all believers +ho are tr!in to +or8 for -od. Let love fill !our heart. As8Christ to pour fresh love into !ou ever!da!. Tr! to rasp# b! the ol! Spirit of -od9 ) a* separatedunto the ol! Spirit# and the fruit of the Spirit is love. -od help us to understand it.

,a! -od rant that +e learn da! b! da! to +ait *ore ?uietl! upon i*. >e *ust not +ait upon -odonl! for ourselves# or the po+er to do so +ill soon be lost. 6ut# +e *ust ive ourselves up to the*inistr! and the love of inter'ession# and pra! *ore for -od%s people in eneral# for -od%s peoplearound us# for the Spirit of love in ourselves and in the*# and for the +or8 of -od +e are 'onne'ted

+ith. The ans+er +ill surel! 'o*e# and our +aitin upon -od +ill be a sour'e of untold blessin andpo+er. "The fruit of the Spirit is love."

ave !ou a la'8 of love to 'onfess before -od@ Then *a8e 'onfession and sa! before i*# "O Lord# *!la'8 of heart# *! la'8 of love7) 'onfess it." And then# as !ou 'ast that la'8 at is feet# believe that the

blood 'leanses !ou# that esus 'o*es in is *iht!# 'leansin# savin po+er to deliver !ou# and thate +ill ive is ol! Spirit. "The Fruit of the Spirit is love."

Ch 03. Separated unto the Holy Spirit

"No+ there +ere in the 'hur'h that +as at Antio'h 'ertain prophets and tea'hers: as 6arnabas# and

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Si*eon that +as 'alled Nier# and Lu'ius of C!rene# and ,anaen ... and Saul. "As the! *inistered tothe Lord# and fasted# the ol! -host said# Separate *e 76arnabas and Saul for the +or8 +hereunto )have 'alled the*.

"And +hen the! had fasted and pra!ed# and laid their hands on the*# the! sent the* a+a!. So the!#bein sent forth b! the ol! -host# departed unto Seleu'ia" e thin8 that +e 8no+ +hat ouht to be done. >eas8 -od first to bless our feeble efforts# instead of absolutel! refusin to o unless -od oes before us.-od has planned for the +or8 and the eDtension of is indo*. The ol! Spirit has had that +or8

iven in 'hare to i*# "The +or8 +hereunto ) have 'alled the*." ,a! -od# therefore# help us all to beafraid of tou'hin "the ar8 of -od"


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labor that others 'ould not at first understand or approve. e has led the* into +a!s and *ethods thatdid not appeal to the *aorit!. 6ut the ol! Spirit still# in our ti*e# tea'hes is people. Than8 -od# inour forein *issionar! so'ieties and in our ho*e *issions# and in a thousand for*s of +or8# theuidin of the ol! Spirit is 8no+n. 6ut e see there is an open field# and +e have had our *issions in otherfields. >e are oin to et on to that field. >e have virtuall! settled that# and +e pra! about it. 6ut theposition +as a ver! different one in those for*er da!s. ) doubt +hether an! of the* thouht of Europehat is5our +ill for us@"

>as it not the sa*e +ith $eter@ e +as on the housetop# fastin and pra!in# and little did he thin8 ofthe vision and the 'o**and to o to Caesarea. e +as inorant of +hat his +or8 *iht be.

)t is in hearts entirel! surrendered to the Lord esus# separatin the*selves fro* the +orld# and evenfro* ordinar! reliious eDer'ises# and ivin the*selves up in intense pra!er to loo8 to their Lord# thatthe heavenl! +ill of -od +ill be *ade *anifest.

5ou 8no+ that +ord fastin o''urs a se'ond ti*e hen!ou pra!# !ou love to o into !our 'loset# a''ordin to the 'o**and of esus# and shut the door. 5oushut out business and 'o*pan! and pleasure and an!thin that 'an distra't# and !ou +ant to be alone

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+ith -od. 6ut in one +a!# even the *aterial +orld follo+s !ou there. 5ou *ust eat. These *en +antedto shut the*selves out fro* the influen'es of the *aterial and the visible# and the! fasted. >hat #the!ate +as si*pl! enouh to suppl! the +ants of nature. )n the intensit! of their souls# the! thouht toive eDpression to their lettin o of ever!thin on earth in their fastin before -od. Oh# *a! -od iveus that intensit! of desire7that separation fro* ever!thin7be'ause +e +ant to +ait upon -od# that theol! Spirit *a! reveal to us -od%s blessed +ill.

The fourth thouht7 >hat is no+ the +ill of -od as the ol! Spirit reveals it@ )t is 'ontained in onephrase9 Separation unto the ol! Spirit. That is the 8e!note of the *essae fro* heaven.

"Separate *e 6arnabas and Saul for the +or8 +hereunto ) have 'alled the*. The +or8 is *ine: and )'are for it: and ) have 'hosen these *en and 'alled the*: and ) +ant !ou +ho represent the Chur'h ofChrist upon earth to set the* apart unto *e."

Loo8 at this heavenl! *essae in its t+ofold aspe't. The *en +ere to be set apart to the ol! Spirit#and the Chur'h +as to do this separatin +or8. The ol! Spirit 'ould trust these *en to do it in a rihtspirit. There the! +ere abidin in fello+ship +ith the heavenl!. The ol! Spirit 'ould sa! to the*# "othe +or8 of separatin these *en." And these +ere the *en the ol! Spirit had prepared# and e'ould sa! of the*# "Let the* be separated unto *e."

ere +e 'o*e to the ver! root7the ver! lifeof the need of Christian +or8ers. The ?uestion is9 >hat isneeded so that the po+er of -od +ould rest on us *ore *ihtil!@ >hat is needed so that the blessinof -od +ould be poured out *ore abundantl! a*on those poor# +ret'hed people and perishinsinners a*on +ho* +e labor@ And the ans+er fro* heaven is9

") +ant *en separated unto the ol! Spirit."

>hat does that i*pl!@ 5ou 8no+ that there are t+o spirits on earth. Christ said# +hen e spo8e aboutthe ol! Spirit9 "The +orld 'annot re'eive hi*"


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Ch 0. !eter"s #epentance

"And the Lord turned# and loo8ed upon $eter. And $eter re*e*bered the +ord of the Lord# ho+ hehad said unto hi*# 6efore the 'o'8 'ro+# thou shalt den! *e thri'e. And $eter +ent out# and +ept

bitterl!" hen +e loo8 at his 'hara'ter# so full of failures# and at +hat Christ *ade hi* b! the po+er of theol! Spirit# there is hope for ever! one of us. 6ut re*e*ber# before Christ 'ould fill $eter +ith theol! Spirit and *a8e a ne+ *an of hi*# he had to o out and +eep bitterl!: he had to be hu*bled. )f

+e +ant to understand this# ) thin8 there are four points that +e *ust loo8 at. First# let us loo8 at $eterthe devoted dis'iple of esus: neDt# at $eter as he lived the life of self: then# at $eter in his repentan'e:and last# at +hat Christ *ade of $eter b! the ol! Spirit.

$ETE& TE EHOTE )SC)$LE OF C&)ST

Christ 'alled $eter to forsa8e his nets and follo+ i*. $eter did it at on'e# and after+ard he 'ouldrihtl! sa! to the Lord9

">e have forsa8en all and follo+ed thee" hen Christ as8ed the dis'iples9 ">ho* sa! !e that ) a*@"

$eter +as able to ans+er9 "Thou art the Christ# the Son of the livin -od." And Christ said9 "6lessed artthou# Si*on 6arona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee# but *! Father +hi'h is inheaven"


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There +as $eter in his self7+ill# trustin his o+n +isdo*# and a'tuall! forbiddin Christ to o and die.>here did that 'o*e fro*@ $eter trusted in hi*self and his o+n thouhts about divine thins. >e seelater on# *ore than on'e# that the dis'iples ?uestioned +ho should be the reatest a*on the*. $eter

+as one of the*# and he thouht he had a riht to the ver! first pla'e. e souht his o+n honor abovethe others. The life of self +as stron in $eter. e had left his boats and his nets# but not his old self.

>hen Christ had spo8en to hi* about is sufferins# and said9 "-et thee behind *e# Satan#" efollo+ed it up b! sa!in9 ")f an! *an +ill 'o*e after *e# let hi* den! hi*self# and ta8e up his 'ross#and follo+ *e"


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) do not thin8 +e 'an i*aine the depth of hu*iliation $eter san8 into then. 6ut that +as the turninpoint and the 'hane. On the first da! of the +ee8# Christ +as seen b! $eter# and in the evenin e *ethi* +ith the others. Later on at the Sea of -alilee# e as8ed hi*9 "Lovest thou *e@" hen Christ +arned hi*9 "Thou shalt den! *e"


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be'ause there is so *u'h of that selflife in us that the po+er of -od 'annot +or8 in us as *ihtil! ase desires that it should +or8. o !ou realiGe that the reat -od is lonin to double is blessin# toive tenfold blessin throuh us@ 6ut there is so*ethin hinderin i*# and that so*ethin is a proofof nothin but the self7life. >e tal8 about the pride of $eter# and the i*petuosit! of $eter# and the self'onfiden'e of $eter. )t is all rooted in that one +ord# self Christ had said# "en! self#" and $eter hadnever understood# and never obe!ed. Ever! failin 'a*e out of that.

>hat a sole*n thouht# and +hat an urent plea for us to 'r!9 Oh -od# do sho+ this to us so that noneof us *a! be livin the self7life/ )t has happened to people +ho have been Christians for !ears: it hashappened to people +ho have perhaps o''upied pro*inent positions7-od found the* out and tauhtthe* to find out about the*selves. The! be'a*e utterl! asha*ed and fell bro8en before -od. Oh# the

bitter sha*e and sorro+ and pain and aon! that 'a*e to the*# until at last the! found that there+asdeliveran'e/ $eter +ent out and +ept bitterl!. There *a! be *an! odl! people in +ho* the po+er ofthe flesh still rules.

And then *! se'ond lesson is 7 )t is the +or8 of our blessed Lord esus to dis'lose the po+er of self.

o+ +as it that $eter7the 'arnal $eter# self+illed $eter# $eter +ith the stron self7love7ever be'a*e a*an of $ente'ost and the +riter of his epistles@ )t +as be'ause Christ pla'ed hi* in 'hare# and Christ

+at'hed over hi*# and Christ tauht and blessed hi*. The +arnins that Christ had iven hi* +erepart of the trainin. Last of all# there 'a*e that loo8 of love. )n is sufferin# Christ did not for7ethi*# but turned around and loo8ed upon hi*# and "$eter +ent out and +ept bitterl!." And the Christ

+ho led $eter to $ente'ost is +aitin toda! to ta8e 'hare of ever! heart that is +illin to surrenderitself to i*.

Are there not so*e sa!in9 "Ah/ that is the proble* +ith *e: it is al+a!s the self7life# self'o*fort# self7'ons'iousness# selfpleasin# and self +ill. o+ a* ) to et rid of it@"

,! ans+er is9 )t is Christ esus +ho 'an rid !ou of it. No one else but Christ esus 'an ive deliveran'efro* the po+er of self. And +hat does e as8 !ou to do@ e as8s that !ou should hu*ble !ourself

before i*.

Ch 0$. %&possible 'ith (an) !ossible 'ith *od

"And he said# the thins +hi'h are i*possible +ith *en are possible +ith -od"


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a lon ti*e to learn the first lesson7that in the Christian life *an 'an do nothin# that salvation isi*possible to *an. And often a *an learns that# and !et he does not learn the se'ond lesson7+hat has

been i*possible to hi* is possible +ith -od. 6lessed is the *an +ho learns both lessons/ The learninof the* *ar8s staes in the Christian%s life.

,AN CANNOT

The one stae is +hen a *an is tr!in to do his ut*ost and fails# +hen a *an tries to do better and fallsaain# +hen a *an tries *u'h *ore and al+a!s fails. And !et# ver! often he does not even then learnthe lesson9 >ith *an it is i*possible to serve -od and Christ. $eter spent three !ears in Christ%ss'hool# and he never learned# it is i*possible# until he had denied his Lord# +ent out# and +ept

bitterl!. Then he learned it.

ust loo8 for a *o*ent at a *an +ho is learnin this lesson. At first# he fihts aainst it. Then# hesub*its to it# but relu'tantl! and in despair. At last# he a''epts it A#llllnl! and reoi'es in it. At the

beinnin of the Christian life# the !oun 'onvert has no 'on'eption of this truth. e has been'onverted: he has the o! of the Lord in his heart: he beins to run the ra'e and fiht the battle. e issure he 'an 'on?uer# for he is earnest and honest# and -od +ill help hi*. 5et# so*eho+# ver! soon hefails +here he did not eDpe't it# and sin ets the better of hi*. e is disappointed# but he thin8s9 ") +as

not 'autious enouh. ) did not *a8e *! resolutions stron enouh." And aain he vo+s# and aain hepra!s# and !et he fails. e thin8s9 "A* ) not# a redee*ed *an@ ave ) not the life of -od +ithin *e@"And he thin8s aain9 "5es# and ) have Christ to help *e. ) 'an live the hol! life."

At a later period# he 'o*es to another state of *ind. e beins to see su'h a life is i*possible# but hedoes not a''ept it. There are *ultitudes of Christians +ho 'o*e to this point9 ") 'annot." The! thenthin8 that -od never eDpe'ted the* to do +hat the! 'annot do. )f !ou tell the* that -od does eDpe't it#it is a *!ster! to the*. A ood *an! Christians are livin a lo+ life7a life of failure and of sin7insteadof rest and vi'tor!# be'ause the! bean to sa!9 ") 'annot# it is i*possible." And !et the! do notunderstand it full!. So# under the i*pression# ) 'annot# the! ive +a! to despair. The! +ill do their

best# but the! never eDpe't to et on ver! far.

6ut -od leads is 'hildren on to a third stae. A *an 'o*es to ta8e# it is i*possible# in its full truth#and !et at the sa*e ti*e sa!s9 ") *ust do it# and ) +ill do it7it is i*possible for *an# and !et ) *ust doit." The rene+ed +ill beins to eDer'ise its +hole po+er# and in intense lonin and pra!er beins to'r! to -od9 "Lord# +hat is the *eanin of this@ o+ a* ) to be freed fro* the po+er of sin@"

)t is the state of the reenerate *an in &o*ans# 'hapter seven. There !ou +ill find the Christian *antr!in his ver! ut*ost to live a hol! life. -od%s la+ has been revealed to hi* as rea'hin do+n into the

ver! depth of the desires of the heart. The *an 'an dare to sa!9

") deliht in the la+ of -od after the in+ard *an. To +ill +hat is ood is present +ith *e. ,! heartloves the la+ of -od# and *! +ill has 'hosen that la+."

Can a *an li8e that fail# +ith his heart full of deliht in -od%s la+ and +ith his +ill deter*ined to do

%>hat is riht@ 5es. That is +hat &o*ans# 'hapter seven tea'hes us. There is so*ethin *ore needed.Not onl! *ust ) deliht in the la+ of -od after the in+ard *an and +ill +hat -od +ills# but ) need adivine o*nipoten'e to +or8 it in *e. And that is +hat the apostle $aul tea'hes in $hilippians 29139 ")tis -od +hi'h +or8eth in !ou# both to +ill and to do of his ood pleasure."

Note the 'ontrast. )n &o*ans# 'hapter seven# the reenerate *an sa!s9 "To +ill is present +ith *e# butho+ to perfor* that +hi'h is ood ) find not"


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rene+ed +ill# -od +ill ive the po+er to a''o*plish +hat that +ill desires. Let us re'eive this as thefirst reat lesson in the spiritual life9 ")t is i*possible for *e# *! -od. Let there be an end of the fleshand all its po+ers# an end of self# and let it be *! lor! to be helpless.

$raise -od for the divine tea'hin that *a8es us helpless/

>hen !ou thouht of absolute surrender to -od# +ere !ou not brouht to an end of !ourself@ id !ou

not feel that !ou 'ould see ho+ !ou a'tuall! 'ould live as a 7nan absolutel! surrendered to -od ever!*o*ent of the da!7at !our table# in !our house# in !our business# in the *idst of trials andte*ptations@ ) pra! !ou learn the lesson no+. )f !ou felt !ou 'ould not do it# !ou are on the riht road#if !ou let !ourselves be led. A''ept that position# and *aintain it before -od9 ",! heart%s desire anddeliht# ; -od# is absolute surrender# but ) 'annot perfor* it. )t is i*possible for *e to live that life. itis be!ond *e." Fall do+n and learn that +hen !ou are utterl! helpless# -od +ill 'o*e to +or8 in !ounot onl! to +ill# but also to do.

-O CAN

No+ 'o*es the se'ond lesson. "The thins +hi'h are i*possible +ith *en are possible +ith -od. "

) said a little +hile ao that there is *an! a *an +ho has learned the lesson# it is i*possible +ith *en#and then he ives up in helpless despair. e lives a +ret'hed Christian life# +ithout o! or strenth orvi'tor!. And +h!@ 6e'ause he does not hu*ble hi*self to learn that other lesson9 >ith -od all thinsare possible.

5our Christian life is to be a 'ontinuous proof that -od +or8s i*possibilities. 5our Christian life is tobe a series of i*possibilities *ade possible and a'tual b! -od%s al*iht! po+er. That is +hat theChristian needs. e has an al*iht! -od that he +orships# and he *ust learn to understand that hedoes not need a little of -od%s po+er. 6ut# he needs7+ith reveren'e be it said7the +hole of -od%so*nipoten'e to 8eep hi* riht# and to live li8e a Christian.

The +hole of Christianit! is a +or8 of -od%s o*nipoten'e. Loo8 at the birth of Christ esus. That +as a*ira'le of divine po+er# and it +as said to ,ar!9 ">ith -od nothin shall be i*possible" e are tauht that it +as a''ordin tothe eD'eedin reatness of is *iht! po+er that -od raised Christ fro* the dead.

Ever! tree *ust ro+ on the root fro* +hi'h it sprins. An oa8 tree three hundred !ears old ro+s allthe ti*e on the one root fro* +hi'h it had its beinnin. Christianit! had its beinnin in theo*nipoten'e of -od. )n ever! soul# Christianit! *ust have its 'ontinuan'e in that o*nipoten'e. All thepossibilities of the hiher Christian life have their oriin in a ne+ understandin of Christ%s po+er to

+or8 all -od%s +ill in us.

) +ant to 'all on !ou no+ to 'o*e and +orship an al*iht! -od. ave !ou learned to do it@ ave !oulearned to deal so 'losel! +ith an al*iht! -od that !ou 8no+ o*nipoten'e is +or8in in !ou@ )nout+ard appearan'e there is often little sin of it.

The apostle $aul said9 ") +as +ith !ou in +ea8ness and in fear and in *u'h tre*blin# and ... *!prea'hin +as ... in de*onstration of the Spirit and of po+er"


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have !ou studied -od%s o*nipoten'e in the +or8s of rede*ption@

Loo8 at Abraha*. >hen -od 'alled hi* to be the father of that people out of +hi'h Christ +as to beborn# e said to hi*9 ") a* the Al*iht! -od# +al8 before *e and be thou perfe't" hether it +as his oin out to a landthat he did not 8no+# or his faith as a pilri* *idst the thousands of Canaanites7his faith said9 "This is*! land." >hetherit +as his faith in +aitin t+ent!7five !ears for a son in his old ae# aainst all hope#

or +hether it +as the raisin up of )saa' fro* the dead on ,ount ,oriah +hen he +as oin tosa'rifi'e hi*7Abraha* believed -od. e +as stron in faith# ivin lor! to -od# be'ause he a''ountedi* +ho had pro*ised able to perfor*.

The 'ause of the +ea8ness of !our Christian life is that !ou +ant to +or8 it out partl!# and to let -odhelp !ou. And that 'annot be. 5ou *ust 'o*e to be utterl! helpless# to let -od +or8. e +ill +or8loriousl!. )t is this that +e need if +e are indeed to be +or8ers for -od. ) 'ould o throuh S'riptureand prove to !ou ho+ ,oses# +hen he led )srael out of E!pt: ho+ oshua# +hen he brouht the* intothe land of Canaan: ho+ all -od%s servants in the Old Testa*ent 'ounted on the o*nipoten'e of -oddoin i*possibilities. And this -od lives toda!: and this -od is the -od of ever! 'hild of is. And !etso*e of us +ant -od to ive us a little help +hile +e do our best# instead of 'o*in to understand +hat-od +ants# and to sa!9 ") 'an do nothin. -od *ust and +ill do all." ave !ou said9 ")n +orship# in

+or8# in san'tifi'ation# in obedien'e to -od# ) 'an do nothin of *!self# and so *! pla'e is to +orship-od# and to believe that e +ill +or8 in *e ever! *o*ent"@ Oh# *a! -od tea'h us this/ Oh# that -od+ould b! is ra'e sho+ !ou +hat a -od !ou have# and to +hat a -od !ou have entrusted !ourself7ano*nipotent -od. e is +illin# +ith is +hole o*nipoten'e# to pla'e i*self at the disposal of ever!'hild of is/ >ill +e not ta8e the lesson of the Lord esus# and sa!9 "A*en: the thins +hi'h arei*possible +ith *en are possible +ith -od"@

&e*e*ber +hat +e have said about $eter# his self'onfiden'e# self7po+er# self7+ill# and ho+ he 'a*e toden! his Lord. 5ou feel# "Ah/ there is the self7life: there is the fleshlife that rules in *e/" And no+# have

!ou believed that there is deliveran'e fro* that@ ave !ou believed that Al*iht! -od is able to revealChrist in !our heart# to let the ol! Spirit rule in !ou so that the self7life +ill not have po+er ordo*inion over !ou@ ave !ou 'oupled the t+o toether7 and# +ith tears of peniten'e and +ith deephu*iliation and feebleness# 'ried out9 "O -od# it is i*possible to *e: *an 'annot do it# but lor! to

5our na*e# it is possible +ith -od"@ ave !ou 'lai*ed deliveran'e@ o it no+. $ut !ourself afresh inabsolute surrender into the hands of a -od of infinite love. As infinite as is love is is po+er to do it.

-O >O&S )N ,AN

6ut aain# +e 'o*e to the ?uestion of absolute surrender# and feel that that is la'8in in the Chur'h ofChrist. That is +h! the ol! Spirit 'annot fill us# and +h! +e 'annot live as people entirel! separatedunto the ol! Spirit. That is +h! the flesh and the self7life 'annot be 'on?uered. >e have neverunderstood +hat it is to be absolutel! surrendered to -od as esus +as. ) 8no+ that *an! earnestl!and honestl! sa!9 "A*en# ) a''ept the *essae of absolute surrender to -od." 5et the! thin89 ">ill thatever be *ine@ Can ) 'ount on -od to *a8e *e one of +ho* it +ill be said in heaven# on earth# and inhell# he lives in absolute surrender to -od@" 6rother# sister# "the thins +hi'h are i*possible +ith *en

are possible +ith -od." o believe that# +hen e ta8es 'hare of !ou in Christ# it is possible for -od to*a8e !ou a *an of absolute surrender. And -od is able to *aintain that. e is able to let !ou rise fro*

bed ever! *ornin of the +ee8 +ith that blessed thouht dire'tl! or indire'tl!9 ") a* in -od%s 'hare.,! -od is +or8in out *! life for *e."

So*e are +ear! of thin8in about san'tifi'ation. 5ou pra!: !ou have loned and 'ried for it: and !et# itappeared so far off/ 5ou are so 'ons'ious of ho+ distant the holiness and hu*ilit! of esus is. 6elovedfriends# the one do'trine of san'tifi'ation that is s'riptural and real and effe'tual is9 "The thins +hi'h

42&4


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are i*possible +ith *en are possible +ith -od." -od 'an san'tif! *en. 6! is al*iht! andsan'tif!in po+er# -od 'an 8eep the* ever! *o*ent. Oh# that +e *iht et a step nearer to our -odno+/ Oh# that the liht of -od *iht shine# and that +e *iht 8no+ our -od better/

) 'ould o on to spea8 about the life of Christ in us7livin li8e Christ# ta8in Christ as our Savior fro*sin# and as our life and strenth. )t is -od in heaven +ho 'an reveal that in !ou. >hat does that pra!erof the apostle $aul sa!9 "That he +ould rant !ou a''ordin to ri'hes of his lor!# to be strenth7 ened

+ith *iht b! his Spirit in the inner *an" hen ) a* brouht to su'h a state that the *ore obsta'les# hatred# and

inratitude surround *e# the *ore the po+er of love 'an triu*ph in *e. ntil ) a* brouht to seethese# ) a* not sa!in9 ")t is i*possible +ith *en." 6ut if !ou have been led to sa!9 "This *essae hasspo8en to *e about a love utterl! be!ond *! po+er. )t is absolutel! i*possible"7then +e 'an 'o*e to-od and sa!9 ")t is possible +ith 5ou."

So*e are 'r!in to -od for a reat revival. ) 'an sa! that this is the un'easin pra!er of *! heart. Oh# if-od +ould onl! revive is believin people/ ) 'annot thin8 of the un'onverted for*alists of the Chur'hor of the infidels and s8epti's or of all the +ret'hed and perishin around *e# +ithout *! heartpleadin9 ",! -od# revive 5our Chur'h and people." )t is not for a la'8 of reason that thousands ofhearts !earn after holiness and 'onse'ration. )t is a forerunner of -od%s po+er. -od +or8s to +ill andthen e +or8s to do. These !earnins are a +itness and a proof that -od has +or8ed to +ill. Oh# let usin faith believe that the o*nipotent -od +ill +or8 to do a*on is people *ore than +e 'an as8."nto hi*#" $aul said# "that is able to do eD'eedin abundantl! above all that +e as8 or thin8#. untohi* be lor!"


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esus Christ our Lord" eshould %have *issed the ?uestion +e all +ant ans+ered as to sin in the believer. >hat is the ans+er@The reenerate *an is one in +ho* the +ill has been rene+ed# and +ho 'an sa!9 ") deliht in the la+of -od after the in+ard *an."

TE >EA ,AN

ere is the reat *ista8e *ade b! *an! Christian people7the! thin8 that +hen there is a rene+ed#+ill# it is enouh. 6ut that is not the 'ase. This reenerate *an tells us9 ") +ill to do +hat is ood# butthe po+er to perfor* ) find not." o+ often people tell us that if !ou set !ourself deter*inedl!# !ou'an perfor* +hat !ou +ill/ 6ut this *an +as as deter*ined as an! *an 'an be# and !et he *ade the'onfession9 "To +ill is present +ith *e: but ho+ to perfor* that +hi'h is ood# ) find not"


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6ut# !ou as89 "o+ is it -od *a8es a reenerate *an utter su'h a 'onfession@ e bein +ith a riht+ill# +ith a heart that lons to do ood# and lons to do its ver! ut*ost to love -od@"

Let us loo8 at this ?uestion. >hat has -od iven us our +ill for@ ad the anels +ho fell# in their o+n+ill# the strenth to stand@ Surel!# no. The +ill of *an is nothin but an e*pt! vessel in +hi'h thepo+er of -od is to be *ade *anifest. ,an *ust see8 in -od all that is to be. 5ou have it in the se'ond'hapter of the epistle to the $hilippians# and !ou have it here also# that -od%s +or8 is to +or8 in us

both to +ill and to do of is ood pleasure. ere is a *an +ho appears to sa!9 "-od has not +or8ed todo in *e." 6ut +e are tauht that -od +or8s both to +ill and to do. o+ is the apparent 'ontradi'tionto be re'on'iled@

5ou +ill find that in this passae


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the deeds of the bod!# da! b! da!# hour b! hour# and *o*ent b! *o*ent.

) +ant to brin this to a point. &e*e*ber# dear friend# +hat +e need is to 'o*e to de'ision and a'tion.There are in S'ripture t+o ver! different sorts of Christians. The 6ible spea8s in &o*ans# Corinthians#and -alatians about !ieldin to the flesh: and that is the life of tens of thousands of believers. All theirla'8 of o! in the ol! Spirit# and their la'8 of the libert! e ives# is ust o+in to the flesh. The Spiritis +ithin the*# but the flesh rules the life. To be led b! the Spirit of -od is +hat the! need. )f onl! )

'ould *a8e ever! 'hild of is realiGe +hat it *eans that the everlastin -od has iven is dear Son#Christ esus# to +at'h over !ou ever! da!# and that +hat !ou have to do is to trust. )f onl! ) 'ould *a8eis 'hildren understand that the +or8 of the ol! Spirit is to enable !ou ever! *o*ent to re*e*beresus# and to trust i*/ The Spirit has 'o*e to 8eep the lin8 +ith i* unbro8en ever! *o*ent.$raise -od for the ol! Spirit/ >e are so a''usto*ed to thin8in of the ol! Spirit as a luDur!# forspe'ial ti*es# or for spe'ial *inisters and *en. 6ut the ol! Spirit is ne'essar! for ever! believer#ever! *o*ent of the da!. $raise -od !ou have i*# and that e ives !ou the full eDperien'e of thedeliveran'e in Christ as e *a8es !ou free fro* the po+er of sin.

>ho lons to have the po+er and the libert! of the ol! Spirit@ Oh# brother# bo+ before -od in onefinal 'r! of despair9 "; -od# *ust ) o on sinnin this +a! forever@ >ho shall deliver *e# ; +ret'hed*an that ) a*/ fro* the bod! of this death@"

Are !ou read! to sin8 before -od in that 'r! and see8 the po+er of esus to live and +or8 in !ou@ Are!ou read! to sa!9 ") than8 -od throuh esus Christ"@

>hat ood does it do that +e o to 'hur'h or attend 'onventions# %that +e stud! our 6ibles and pra!#unless our lives are filled +ith the ol! Spirit@ That is +hat -od +ants. Nothin else +ill enable us tolive a life of po+er and pea'e. >hen a *inister or parent is usin the 'ate'his*# and a ?uestion isas8ed# an ans+er is eDpe'ted. o+ sad that *an! Christians are 'ontent +ith the ?uestion put here9 ";

+ret'hed *an that ) a*/ +ho shall deliver *e fro* the bod! of this death@" but never ive the ans+er.

)nstead of ans+erin# the! are silent. )nstead of sa!in9 ") than8 -od throuh esus Christ our Lord#"the! are forever repeatin the ?uestion +ithout the ans+er. )f !ou +ant the path to the full deliveran'eof Christ# and the libert! of the Spirit7the lorious libert! of the 'hildren of -od7ta8e it throuh theseventh 'hapter of &o*ans. Then sa!9 ") than8 -od throuh esus Christ our Lord." o not be 'ontentto re*ain ever roanin# but sa!9 ")# a +ret'hed *an# than8 -od# throuh esus Christ. Even thouh )do not see it all# ) a* oin to praise -od. "

There is deliveran'e: there is the libert! of the ol! Spirit. The indo* of -od is "o! in the ol!Spirit"


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>hen +e spea8 of the ?ui'8enin or the deepenin or the strenthenin of the spiritual life# +e arethin8in of so*ethin that is feeble and +ron and sinful. )t is a reat thin to ta8e our pla'e before-od +ith the 'onfession9 "Oh# -od# our spiritual life is not +hat it should be/" ,a! -od +or8 that in

!our heart# reader.

As +e loo8 around at the Chur'h# +e see so *an! indi'ations of feebleness# failure# sin# and

short'o*in. The! 'o*pel us to as89 >h! is it@ )s there an! ne'essit! for the Chur'h of Christ to belivin in su'h a lo+ state@ Or is it a'tuall! possible that -od%s people should be livin al+a!s in the o!and strenth of their -od@

Ever! believin heart *ust ans+er9 )t is possible.

Then 'o*es the reat ?uestion9 >h! is it# ho+ is it to be a''ounted for# that -od%s Chur'h as a +hole isso feeble# and that the reat *aorit! of Christians are not livin up to their privilees@ There *ust be areason for it. as -od not iven Christ is Al*iht! Son to be the eeper of ever! believer# to *a8eChrist an ever7present realit!# and to i*part and 'o**uni'ate to us all that +e have in Christ@ -odhas iven is Son# and -od has iven is Spirit. o+ is it that believers do not live up to theirprivilees@

)n *ore than one of the epistles# +e find a ver! sole*n ans+er to that ?uestion. There are epistles#su'h as the first to the Thessalonians# +here $aul +rites to the Christians# in effe't9 ") +ant !ou toro+# to abound# to in'rease *ore and *ore." The! +ere !oun# and there +ere thins la'8in in theirfaith. 6ut their state +as so far satisfa'tor!# ave hi* su'h reat o!# that he +rites ti*e after ti*e9 ")pra! -od that !ou *a! abound *ore and *ore: ) +rite to !ou to in'rease *ore and *ore" e find the sa*e tea'hin in the epistle to the Corinthians.

No+# +e have here a sole*n dis'over! of +hat the reat need is in the Chur'h of Christ. -od has 'alledthe Chur'h of Christ to live in the po+er of the ol! Spirit. 6ut the Chur'h is livin# .for the *ost part#in the po+er of hu*an flesh# and of +ill and ener! and effort apart fro* the Spirit of -od. ) do notdoubt that this is the 'ase +ith *an! individual believers. And oh# if -od +ill use *e to ive !ou a*essae fro* i*# *! one *essae +ill be this9 ")f the Chur'h +ill return to a'8no+lede that theol! Spirit is her strenth and her help# and if the Chur'h +ill return to ive up ever!thin# and +aiton -od to be filled +ith the Spirit# her da!s of beaut! and ladness +ill return. >e +ill see the lor! of-od revealed a*on us." This is *! *essae to ever! individual believer9 "Nothin +ill help !ouunless !ou 'o*e to understand that !ou *ust live ever! da! under the po+er of the ol! Spirit." -od

+ants !ou to be a livin vessel in +ho* the po+er of the Spirit is to be *anifested ever! hour andever! *o*ent of !our life. -od +ill enable !ou to be that.

No+# let us tr! to learn +hat this +ord to the -alatians tea'hes us7so*e ver! si*ple thouhts. )t sho+sus ho+


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re*ind his people that the! re'eived the ol! Spirit# and *ust live a''ordin to is uidan'e and inis po+er.

)f those -alatians +ho re'eived the ol! Spirit in po+er +ere te*pted to o astra! b! that terribledaner of perfe'tin in the flesh +hat had been beun in the Spirit# ho+ *u'h *ore daner do thoseChristians run +ho hardl! ever 8no+ that the! have re'eived the ol! Spirit. o+ *u'h *ore daneris there for those +ho# if the! 8no+ it as a *atter of belief# hardl! ever thin8 of the ift of the ol!

Spirit# and hardl! ever praise -od for it/

NE-LECT)N- TE OL5 S$)&)T

6ut no+ loo8# in the se'ond pla'e# at the reat daner.

5ou *a! all 8no+ +hat shuntin is on a rail+a!. A lo'o*otive +ith its train *a! be travelin in a'ertain dire'tion# and the points at so*e pla'e *a! not be properl! opened or 'losed# andunobservinl! it is shunted off to the riht or to the left. And if that ta8es pla'e# for instan'e# on a dar8niht# the train oes in the +ron dire'tion# and the people *iht never 8no+ it until the! have oneso*e distan'e.

And ust so# -od ives Christians the ol! Spirit +ith this intention7that ever! da!# all their life# shouldbe lived in the po+er of the Spirit. A *an 'annot live one hour of a odl! life unless b! the po+er of theol! Spirit. e *a! live a proper# 'onsistent life# as people 'all it# an irreproa'hable life# a life of virtueand dilient servi'e. 6ut to live a life a''eptable to -od# in the eno!*ent of -od%s salvation and -od%slove# to live and +al8 in the po+er of the ne+ life7he 'annot do it unless he is uided b! the ol! Spiritever! da! and ever! hour.

6ut no+ listen to the daner. The -alatians re'eived the ol! Spirit# but +hat +as beun b! the Spiritthe! tried to perfe't in the flesh. o+@ The! fell ba'8 aain under udaiGin tea'hers +ho told the*the! *ust be 'ir'u*'ised. The! bean to see8 their reliion in eDternal observan'es. And so $aul usesthat eDpression about those tea'hers +ho had the* 'ir'u*'ised so "that the! *a! lorif! in !our flesh"hat is *eant b! that@ )t is si*pl! aneDpression *ade to ive utteran'e to these thouhts9 ,! hu*an nature and *! hu*an +ill and *!hu*an effort 'an be ver! a'tive in reliion. After bein 'onverted# and after re'eivin the ol! Spirit# )*a! bein in *! o+n strenth to tr! to serve -od.

) *a! be ver! dilient and doin a reat deal# and !et all the ti*e it is *ore the +or8 of hu*an fleshthan of -od%s Spirit. >hat a sole*n thouht# that *an 'an# +ithout noti'in# be shunted off fro* theline of the ol! Spirit onto the line of the flesh.

o+ sole*n it is that *an 'an be *ost dilient and *a8e reat sa'rifi'es# and !et it is all in the po+erof the hu*an +ill/ Ah# the reat ?uestion for us to as8 of -od in self7eDa*ination is that +e *a! besho+n +hether our Christian life is lived *ore in the po+er of the flesh than in the po+er of the ol!

Spirit. A *an *a! be a prea'her# he *a! +or8 *ost dilientl! in his *inistr!# a *an *a! be aChristian +or8er# and others *a! sa! of hi* that he *a8es reat sa'rifi'es# and !et !ou 'an feel thereis so*ethin la'8in. 5ou feel that he is not a spiritual *an: there is no spiritualit! about his life. o+*an! Christians there are about +ho* no one +ould ever thin8 of sa!in9 ">hat a spiritual *an heis/" Ah/ there is the +ea8ness of the Chur'h of Christ. )t is all in that one +ord7flesh.

No+# the flesh *a! *anifest itself in *an! +a!s. )t *a! be *anifested in fleshl! +isdo*. ,! *ind*a! be *ost a'tive about Christianit!. ) *a! prea'h or +rite or thin8 or *editate# and deliht in bein

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o''upied +ith thins in -od%s 6oo8 and in -od%s indo*. 5et# the po+er of the ol! Spirit *a! be*ar8edl! absent. ) fear that if !ou ta8e the prea'hin throuhout the Chur'h of Christ and as8 +h!there is so little 'onvertin po+er in the prea'hin of the >ord# +h! there is so *u'h +or8 and oftenso little result for eternit!# +h! the >ord has so little po+er to build up believers in holiness and in'onse'ration7the ans+er +ill be9 )t is the absen'e of the po+er of the ol! Spirit. And +h! is this@There 'an be no other reason eD'ept that the flesh and hu*an ener! have ta8en the pla'e that theol! Spirit ouht to have. That +as true of the -alatians: it +as true of the Corinthians. 5ou 8no+ $aul

said to the*9 ") 'ould not spea8 unto !ou as unto spiritual *en# but as unto 'arnal" hat are the proofs or indi'ations that a 'hur'h li8e the -alatians# or a Christian# isservin -od in the po+er of the flesh7is perfe'tin in the flesh +hat +as beun in the Spirit@ Theans+er is ver! eas!. &eliious self effort al+a!s ends in sinful flesh. >hat +as the state of those-alatians@ The! +ere strivin to be ustified b! the +or8s of the la+. And !et the! +ere ?uarrelin andin daner of devourin one another. Count the nu*ber of eDpressions that the apostle uses to indi'atetheir +ant of love. 5ou +ill find *ore than t+elve7env!# ealous!# bitterness# strife# and all sorts of

others. &ead in the fourth and fifth 'hapters +hat he sa!s about that. 5ou see ho+ the! tried to serve-od in their o+n7.strenth# and the! failed utterl!. All this reliious effort resulted in failure. Thepo+er of sin and the sinful flesh ot the better of the*. Their +hole 'ondition +as one of the saddestthat 'ould be thouht of.

This 'o*es to us +ith unspea8able sole*nit!.

There is a 'o*plaint ever!+here in the Christian Chur'h of the la'8 of a hih standard of interit! andodliness# even a*on the professin *e*bers of Christian 'hur'hes. ) re*e*ber a ser*on +hi'h )heard prea'hed on 'o**er'ial *oralit!. 6ut let us not spea8 onl! of the 'o**er'ial *oralit! ori**oralit!: let us o into the ho*es of Christians. Thin8 of the life to +hi'h -od has 'alled is'hildren# and +hi'h e enables the* to live b! the ol! Spirit. Thin8 of ho+ *u'h there is ofunlovinness# te*per# sharpness# and bitterness. Thin8 ho+ often there is strife a*on the *e*bersof 'hur'hes# and ho+ *u'h there is of env!# ealous!# sensitiveness# and pride. Then +e are 'o*pelledto sa!9 ">here are *ar8s of the presen'e of the Spirit of the La*b of -od@" >antin# sadl! +antin/

,an! people spea8 of these thins as thouh the! +ere the natural result of our feebleness and 'annotbe helped. ,an! people spea8 of these thins as sins# !et have iven up the hope of 'on?uerin the*.,an! people spea8 of these thins in the 'hur'h around the*# and do not see the least prospe't of everhavin the thins 'haned. There is no prospe't until there is a radi'al 'hane# until the Chur'h of -od

beins to see that ever! sin in the believer 'o*es fro* the flesh7fro* a fleshl! life *idst our Christiana'tivities# fro* a strivin in self7effort to serve -od. >e +ill fail until +e learn to *a8e 'onfession# anduntil +e bein to see that +e *ust so*eho+ or other et -od%s Spirit in po+er ba'8 to is Chur'h.

>here did the Chur'h bein in $ente'ost@ There the! bean in the Spirit. 6ut# ho+ the Chur'h of theneDt 'entur! +ent off into the flesh/ The! thouht to perfe't the Chur'h in the flesh.

o not let us thin8# be'ause the blessed &efor*ation restored the reat do'trine of ustifi'ation b!faith# that the po+er of the ol! Spirit +as then full! restored. )f it is our belief that -od is oin tohave *er'! on is Chur'h in these last aes# it +ill be be'ause the do'trine and the truth about theol! Spirit +ill not onl! be studied# but souht after +ith a +hole heart. )t is not onl! be'ause thattruth +ill be souht after# but be'ause *inisters and 'onreations +ill be found bo+in before -od indeep abase*ent +ith one 'r!9 ">e have rieved -od%s Spirit. >e have tried to be Christian 'hur'hes

+ith as little as possible of -od%s Spirit. >e have not souht to be 'hur'hes filled +ith the ol! Spirit."

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said that +e have t+o ver! si*ple truths9 the one# the divine side7+e are 8ept b! the po+er of -od: theother# the hu*an side7+e are 8ept throuh faith.

E$T 65 TE $O>E& OF -O

Loo8 at the divine side9 Christians are 8ept b! the po+er of -od. 1= eepin )n'ludes All. Thin8# first ofall# that this 8eepin is all in'lusive.

>hat is 8ept@ 5ou are 8ept. o+ *u'h of !ou@ The +hole bein. oes -od 8eep one part of !ou andnot another@ No. So*e people have an idea that this is a sort of vaue# eneral 8eepin# and that -od

+ill 8eep the* in su'h a +a! that +hen the! die the! +ill et to heaven. 6ut the! do not appl! that+ord 8ept to ever!thin in their bein and nature. And !et that is +hat -od +ants.

ere ) have a +at'h. Suppose that this +at'h had been borro+ed fro* a friend# and he said to *e9">hen !ou o to Europe# ) +ill let !ou ta8e it +ith !ou# but *ind !ou 8eep it safel! and brin it ba'8."

And suppose ) da*ae the +at'h# and had the hands bro8en# and the fa'e defa'ed# and so*e of the+heels and sprins spoiled# and too8 it ba'8 in that 'ondition# and handed it to *! friend. e +ouldsa!9 "Ah# but ) ave !ou that +at'h on 'ondition that !ou +ould 8eep it."

"ave ) not 8ept it@ There is the +at'h."

"6ut ) did not +ant !ou to 8eep it in that eneral +a!# so that !ou should brin *e ba'8 onl! the shellof the +at'h# or the re*ains. ) eDpe'ted !ou to 8eep ever! part of it." And so -od does not +ant to 8eepus in this eneral +a!# so that at the last# so*eho+ or other# +e +ill be saved as b! fire# and ust etinto heaven. 6ut the 8eepin po+er and the love of -od applies to ever! part of our bein.

There are so*e people +ho thin8 -od +ill 8eep the* in spiritual thins# but not in te*poral thins.This latter# the! sa!# lies outside of is real*. No+# -od sends !ou to +or8 in the +orld# but e didnot sa!9 ") *ust no+ leave !ou to o and earn !our o+n *one!# and to et !our livelihood for !ourself."e 8no+s !ou are not able to 8eep !ourself. 6ut -od sa!s9 ",! 'hild# there is no +or8 !ou are to do#and no business in +hi'h !ou are enaed# and not a 'ent +hi'h !ou are to spend# but )# !our Father#

+ill ta8e that up into *! 8eepin." -od not onl! 'ares for the spiritual# but for the te*poral# also. Thereater part of the life of *an! people *ust be spent# so*eti*es eiht or nine or ten hours a da!# a*idthe te*ptations and distra'tions of business. 6ut -od +ill 'are for !ou there. The 8eepin of -odin'ludes all.

There are other people +ho thin89 "Ah/ in ti*e of trial -od 8eeps *e. 6ut in ti*es of prosperit! ) donot need. is 8eepin: then ) foret i* and let i* o." Others# aain# thin8 the ver! opposite. The!thin89 ")n ti*e of prosperit!# +hen thins are s*ooth and ?uiet# ) a* able to 'lin to -od. 6ut +henheav! trials 'o*e# so*eho+ or other *! +ill rebels# and -od does not 8eep *e then."

No+# ) brin !ou the *essae that in prosperit! as in adversit!# in the sunshine as in the dar8# !our-od is read! to 8eep !ou all the ti*e. Then aain# there are others +ho thin8 of this 8eepin thus9 "-od

+ill 8eep *e fro* doin ver! reat +i'8edness# but there are s*all sins ) 'annot eDpe't -od to 8eep

*e fro*. There is the sin of te*per. ) 'annot eDpe't -od to 'on?uer that."

>hen !ou hear of so*e *an +ho has been te*pted and one astra! or fallen into drun8enness or*urder# !ou than8 -od for is 8eepin po+er. ") *iht have done the sa*e as that *an#" !ou sa!# "if-od had not 8ept *e." And !ou believe e 8ept !ou fro* drun8enness and *urder. And +h! do !ounot believe that -od 'an 8eep !ou fro* outbrea8s of te*per@ 5ou thouht that this +as of lessi*portan'e. 5ou did not re*e*ber that the reat 'o**and*ent of the Ne+ Testa*ent is7"Love oneanother as ) have loved !ou"


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>hat is the Al*iht! -od not oin to do for the 'hild that trusts i*@ The 6ible sa!s9 "Above all that+e as8 or thin8" ord9 ")# the Lord#do 8eep it# and +ill +ater it ever! *o*ent" hat 'an that *ean@ oes "ever! *o*ent"*ean ever! *o*ent@ id -od pro*ise of that vine!ard or red +ine that ever! *o*ent e +ould

+ater it so that the heat of the sun and the s'or'hin +ind *iht never dr! it up@ 5es. )n South Afri'a#the! so*eti*es *a8e a raft# and above it the! tie a bottle of +ater# so that no+ and then there +ill bea drop to saturate +hat the! have put about it. And so the *oisture is 8ept there un'easinl! until the#raft has had ti*e to ta8e# and resist the heat of the sun.

>ill our -od# in is tenderhearted love to+ard us# not 8eep us ever! *o*ent +hen e has pro*isedto do so@ Oh/ if +e on'e ot hold of the thouht9 Our +hole spiritual life is to be -od%s doin7")t is -od

+hi'h +or8eth in !ou both to +ill and to do of his pleasure"


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faith +ill ro+ stroner and stroner. 5ou +ill 8no+ the 8eepin po+er of -od in unbro8enness.

E$T T&O- FA)T

And no+ the other side76elievin. "ept b! the po+er of -od throuh faith." o+ *ust +e loo8 at thisfaith@

= Faith )*plies elplessness

Let *e sa!# first of all# that this faith *eans utter inabilit! and helplessness before -od.

At the botto* of all faith there is a feelin of helplessness. )f ) have a bit of business to transa't#perhaps to bu! a house# the la+!er *ust do the +or8 of ettin the transfer of the propert! in *!na*e. e *ust *a8e all the arrane*ents. ) 'annot do that +or8# and# in trustin that aent# ) 'onfess) 'annot do it. And so faith al+a!s *eans helplessness. )n *an! 'ases it *eans9 ) 'an do it +ith a reatdeal of trouble# but another 'an do it better. 6ut in *ost 'ases it is utter helplessness9 another *ust doit for *e. And that is the se'ret of the spiritual life. A *an *ust learn to sa!9 ") ive up ever!thin. )have tried and loned and thouht and pra!ed# but failure has 'o*e. -od has blessed *e and helped*e# but still# in the lon run# there has been so *u'h sin and sadness." >hat a 'hane 'o*es +hen a

*an is thus bro8en do+n into utter helplessness and selfdespair# and sa!s# ") 'an do nothin/"

&e*e*ber $aul. e +as livin a blessed life# and he had been ta8en up into the third heaven. Then thethorn in the flesh 'a*e# "a *essener of Satan to buffet *e" hat is it that 8eeps us fro* trustin i* perfe'tl!@

,an! sa!9 ") believe +hat !ou sa!# but there is one diffi'ult!. )f *! trust +ere perfe't and al+a!sabidin# all +ould 'o*e riht# for ) 8no+ -od +ill honor trust. 6ut ho+ a* ) to et that trust@"

,! ans+er is9 "6! the death of self. The reat hindran'e to trust is self7effort. So lon as !ou have ot!our o+n +isdo* and thouhts and strenth# 5ou 'annot full! trust -od. 6ut +hen -od brea8s !oudo+n# +hen ever!thin beins to ro+ di* before !our e!es and !ou see that !ou understand nothin#then -od is 'o*in near. )f !ou +ill bo+ do+n in nothinness and +ait on -od# e +ill be'o*e all."

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As lon as +e are so*ethin# -od 'annot be all. is o*nipoten'e 'annot do its full +or8. That is thebeinnin of faith7utter despair of self# a 'easin fro* *an and ever!thin on earth and findin ourhope in -od alone.

(= Faith )s &est

And then# neDt# +e *ust understand that faith is rest.

)n the beinnin of the faith7life# faith is strulin. 6ut as lon as faith is strulin# faith has notattained its strenth. 6ut +hen faith in its strulin ets to the end of itself# and thro+s itself upon-od and rests on i*# then o! and vi'tor! 'o*e.

$erhaps ) 'an *a8e it plainer if ) tell the stor! of ho+ the es+i'8 Convention bean. Canon 6attersb!+as an evaneli'al 'ler!*an of the Chur'h of Enland for *ore than t+ent! !ears. e +as a *an ofdeep and tender odliness# but he did not have the 'ons'iousness of rest and vi'tor! over sin. e +asoften deepl! saddened b! the thouht of stu*blin and failure and sin. >hen he heard about thepossibilit! of vi'tor!# he felt it +as desirable# but it +as as if he 'ould not attain it. On one o''asion# heheard an address on "&est and Faith" fro* the stor! of the noble*an +ho 'a*e fro* Capernau* toCana to as8 Christ to heal his 'hild. )n the address# it +as sho+n that the noble*an believed that

Christ 'ould help hi* in a eneral +a!. 6ut he 'a*e to esus a ood deal b! +a! of an eDperi*ent. ehoped Christ +ould help hi*# but he did not have an! assuran'e of that help. 6ut +hat happened@>hen Christ said to hi*9 "-o th! +a!# for th! 'hild liveth" hen -od 'o*es to *e +ith the pro*ise of is 8eepin# and ) have nothin on earth to trust in# ) sa!to -od9 "5our +ord is enouh. ) a* 8ept b! the po+er of -od." That is faith# that is rest. >hen Canon6attersb! heard that address# he +ent ho*e that niht# and in the dar8ness of the niht he found rest.e rested on the +ord of esus. And the neDt *ornin# in the streets of ODford# he said to a friend9 ")have found it/" Then he +ent and told others# and as8ed that the es+i'8 Convention *iht'o**en'e. e said that those at the 'onvention# alon +ith hi*self# should si*pl! testif! +hat -odhad done.

)t is a reat thin +hen a *an 'o*es to rest on -od%s al*iht! po+er for ever! *o*ent of his life. )t isalso reat +hen he does so in the *idst of te*ptations to te*per and haste and aner andunlovinness and pride and sin. )t is a reat thin in the fa'e of these to enter into a 'ovenant +ith theo*nipotent ehovah77not on a''ount of an!thin that an! *an sa!s# or of an!thin that *! heartfeels7but on the strenth of the >ord of -od9 "ept b! the po+er of -od throuh faith."

Oh# let us sa! to -od that +e are oin to prove i* to the ver! ut*ost. Let us sa!9 >e as8 5ou fornothin *ore than 5ou 'an ive# but +e +ant nothin less. Let us sa!9 ,! -od# let *! life be a proof of

+hat the o*nipotent -od 'an do. Let these be the t+o dispositions of our souls ever! da!7deephelplessness# and si*ple# 'hildli8e rest.

= Faith Needs Fello+ship

That brins *e to ust one *ore thouht in reard to faith. Faith i*plies fello+ship +ith -od.

,an! people +ant to ta8e the >ord and believe that# but do not thin8 it is so ne'essar! to fello+ship

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+ith -od. Ah# no/ !ou 'annot separate -od fro* is >ord. No oodness or po+er 'an be re'eivedseparate fro* -od. )f !ou +ant to et into this life of odliness# !ou *ust ta8e ti*e for fello+ship +ith-od. $eople so*eti*es tell *e9 ",! life is one of su'h s'urr! and bustle that ) have no ti*e forfello+ship +ith -od." A dear *issionar! said to *e9 "$eople do not 8no+ ho+ +e *issionaries arete*pted. ) et up at five o%'lo'8 in the *ornin# and there are the natives +aitin for their orders for

+or8. Then# ) have to o to the s'hool and spend hours there. Then# there is other +or8# and siDteenhours rush alon. ) hardl! et ti*e to be alone +ith -od."

Ah/ there is the need. ) pra! !ou# re*e*ber t+o thins. ) have not told !ou to trust the o*nipoten'e of-od as a thin# and ) have not told !ou to trust the >ord of -od as a +ritten boo8. ) have told !ou to oto the -od of ornnipoten'e andthe -od of the >ord. eal +ith -od as that noble*an dealt +ith thelivin Christ. >h! +as he able to believe the +ord that Christ spo8e to hi*@ 6e'ause in the ver! e!esand tone and voi'e of esus# the Son of -od# he sa+ and heard so*ethin +hi'h *ade hi* feel that he'ould trust i*. And that is +hat Christ 'an do for !ou and *e. o not tr! to stir and arouse faithfro* +ithin. o+ often ) have tried to do that# and *ade a fool of *!self/ 5ou 'annot stir up faith fro*the depths of !our heart. Leave !our heart# and loo8 into the fa'e of Christ. Listen to +hat e tells !ouabout ho+ e +ill 8eep !ou. Loo8 up into the fa'e of !our lovin Father# and ta8e ti*e ever! da! +ithi*. 6ein a ne+ life +ith the deep e*ptiness and povert! of a *an +ho has ot nothin# and +ho

+ants to et ever!thin fro* i*7+ith the deep restfulness of a *an +ho rests on the livin -od# the

o*nipotent ehovah. Tr! -od# and prove i* if e +ill not open the +indo+s of heaven and pour outa blessin that there +ill not be roo* to re'eive it.

) 'lose b! as8in if !ou are +illin to full! eDperien'e the heavenl! 8eepin for the heavenl!inheritan'e@ &obert ,urra! ,%Che!ne sa!s# so*e+here9 "Oh# -od# *a8e *e as hol! as a pardonedsinner 'an be *ade." And if that pra!er is in !our heart# 'o*e no+# and let us enter into a 'ovenant

+ith the everlastin and o*nipotent ehovah afresh. )n reat helplessness# but in reat restfulness# letus pla'e ourselves in is hands. And then# as +e enter into our 'ovenant# let us have the one pra!er77that +e *a! full! believe that the everlastin -od is oin to be our 'o*panion. Let us believe that e

+ill hold our hand ever! *o*ent of the da!. e is our eeper# +at'hin over us +ithout a *o*ent%sinterval. e is our Father# delihtin to reveal i*self in our souls al+a!s. e has the po+er to let thesunshine of is love be +ith us all da!. o not be afraid that be'ause !ou have !our business !ou'annot have -od +ith !ou al+a!s. Learn the lesson that the natural sun shines on !ou all da!# and !oueno! its liht. >herever !ou are !ou have ot the sun: -od *a8es 'ertain that it shines on !ou. And-od +ill *a8e 'ertain that is o+n divine liht shines on !ou# and that !ou +ill abide in that liht# if

!ou +ill onl! trust i* for it. Let us trust -od to do that +ith a reat and entire trust. ere is theo*nipoten'e of -od# and here is faith rea'hin out to the *easure of that o*nipoten'e. >e 'an sa!9"All that that o*nipoten'e 'an do# ) a* oin to trust *! -od for." Are not the t+o sides of thisheavenl! life +onderful@ -od%s o*nipoten'e 'overs *e# and *! +ill in its littleness rests in thato*nipoten'e# and reoi'es in it/

,o*ent b! *o*ent# )%* 8ept in is love:

,o*ent b! *o*ent# )%ve life fro* above:

Loo8in to esus# the lor! doth shine:

,o*ent b! *o*ent# Oh# Lord# ) a* thine/

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Ch 0. e are the branches

AN A&ESS TO C&)ST)AN >O&E&S

Ever!thin depends on our bein riht in Christ. )f ) +ant ood apples# ) *ust have a ood apple tree.

)f ) 'are for the heal

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Murray Absolute Surrender