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Monthly Archives: April 2017

“Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,” we once sang in our church located on Falls Avenue. And through our lives God moved mightily.

Falls Avenue Wesleyan Church became an icon among other churches in America where the Lord was actually answering prayers; where the people prayed expecting miracles to happen: nothing less than a mighty move of God should be expected when we pray.

How long, Christian leaders, pastors, and laymen, has it been since under your teaching: “The place was shaken!”

God is eager to touch the people for whom His Son gave His life.

Instead, the Christian movement has been stifled because many began believing that God does not immediately answer our sincere pleas to Him.

Not knowing what we are doing, we take the Lord’s place thinking that we are the long-suffering, and that the Lord is apparently not ready to come in His healing, liberating power.

Many now exalt long-praying as long-suffering and the God who says He “comes right early” to not really coming quickly to our need.

“The place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart and soul.”

The Book of Acts has been called by some, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit;” by others as “The Acts of the First Century Church;” it is both.

We cannot be effective witnesses except that the Holy Spirit moves in accord with our speech. Nor could Jesus bear fruit except that the Holy Spirit operated in accord with Him.

“And they went forth,” we read elsewhere, “and preached every where the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people – – – and believers were the more added to the church, multitudes both men and women even so much that they even carried the out the sick – – -and they were healed every one…”

This was happening within the confines of a persecuted church.

We linger on earth a short while. Our eternal home is not here. We have been saved and are now His workmanship. We are saved from the world – though we are sent back into it for a season.

Human beings always understand only in part such that the same faith described in the book of Hebrews is that faith which we exercise.
We can be assured knowing this, that the Lord has more-than-adequately revealed himself to us, given his promises to us, and will never leave us or forsake us. We will no doubt feel forsaken. The battle of faith involves taking the Lord at His word.

If we will abide in Him, boldly share Him and his word to those around us who will let us, expect that in going forth He will accompany our words.

Indeed, we must not neglect (telling others and remembering ourselves) “so great a salvation.”

Buddy

I have sinned. So have you reader. We gave an inch to the tempter: he stole a mile from us. Paul called himself “The chief of sinners:” Me too.

Between me and my sin can be the cross of Jesus, the Messiah – the Savior sent for the whole world; for you and for me. On the cross he died for all.

Today, I survey the cross––think on it––take time away from that which strangely demands my time.

The whole earth is looking for hope. We have the hope that will never fail us.

Charles Wesley wrote some of the most beloved hymns of all Christian history. He said he would rather have written this hymn of Isaac Watt’s than all of the hymns he did write.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Not one who has taken up our own cross, set his course, and followed Jesus has been spared from the mix of sorrow and love. In this world it cannot be otherwise.

Every parent worth much knows some of this pain. No spouse can permanently hide from it. No person to carry the evangel of God will be spared this mix.

God’s love is an invasion on earth. We determine whether His love will invade through us or not. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

Believing is an act of the will followed by action. Press on! Invade!

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14).

Buddy