성령 안에 있는 의와 평강과 희락(롬14:17)

THE BIAS OF DEGENERATION “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12 The bible does not say that God punished the human race for one man’s sin; but that the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself, entered into the human race by one man, and that another M..

THE VISION AND THE VERITY “Called to be saints.” 1 Corinthians 1:2 Thank God for the sight of all you have never yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not there yet by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the blows which must come if we are going to b..

THE SPHERE OF MINISTRATION “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29 “Why could not we cast him out?” The answer lies in a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. This kind can come forth by nothing but by concentration and redoubled concentration on Him. We can ever remain powerless, as were the disciples, by trying to do God’s work ..

THE SPHERE OF HUMILIATION “If Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Mark 9:22 After every time of exaltation we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they are where it is neither beautiful nor poetic nor thrilling. The height of the mountain top is measured by the drab drudgery of the valley; but it is in the valley that we have to live..

THE SPHERE OF EXALTATION “Jesus leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves.” Mark 9:2 We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God’s standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only, something is wrong. It is a g..

THE COMMISSION OF THE CALL “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake ” Colossians 1:24 We make calls out of our own spiritual consecration, but when we get right with God He brushes all these aside, and rivets us with a pain that is terrific to one thing we never dreamed of, an..

THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE CALL “For necessity is laid upon me: yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16 We are apt to forget the mystical, supernatural touch of God. If you can tell where you got the call of God and all about it, I question whether you have ever had a call. The call of God does not come like that, it is much more supernatural. The..

THE “GO” OF UNCONDITIONAL IDENTIFICATION “One thing thou lackest…come, take up the cross and Follow Me.” Mark 10:21 The rich young ruler had the master passion to be perfect. When he saw Jesus Christ, he wanted to be like Him. Our Lord never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple; He puts absolute annihilation of my right to myself and identifica..

THE “GO” OF RENUNCIATION “Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.” Luke 9:57 Our Lord’s attitude to this man is one of severe discouragement because He knew what was in man. We would have said—“Fancy losing the opportunity of winning that man!” Fancy bringing about him a north wind that froze him and “turned him away discouraged!” Never apolo..

THE POINT OF SPIRITUAL HONOUR “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians.” Romans 1:14 Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent himself to express it. The great inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsave..