His Side
Now Playing: Are we following His claims on us ?
Topic: Holiness
Joshua 5.13 ? And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him: "Art thou for us, or for our enemies?"

14 And he said, "No; for as captain of the army of Jehovah am I now come". Then Joshua fell upon his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, "What saith my lord unto his servant?"

15 And the captain of Jehovah's army said to Joshua, "Loose thy sandal from off thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest is holy." And Joshua did so.

How often we claim the Lord is for us, or on our side in an issue! Joshua had to learn that the man with the drawn sword he saw was not taking sides, but coming as the captain of Jehovah's host. Joshua's place was to fall on his face to the earth, and to ask "What saith my lord unto his servant?"

A sense of the holiness of the ground we stand on becomes us, not claims of the Lord being for us, and not for others.

Obedience and Submission
Now Playing: Have we considered God's healing principles ?
Topic: Obedience
Obedience and Submission; healing principles.

J.H. Smith

OBEDIENCE and submission are the healing principles of humanity. How constantly they were exemplified in the life of our Saviour! Through grace we are taught of God to bow. I do not say "to approve" always, but to respect divinely constituted authority in its place, in reverence toward HIM who gave it, while waiting patiently on the Lord, if He sees an abuse of authority, to correct the one at fault in His own time and way. "All power is given unto" HIM "in heaven and in earth."

In the Word, the delegation of authority is revealed in at least five aspects, namely: to the husband, to the father, to the "powers that be," to the master, and to the assembly.

The Husband's Authority

The formal _expression of the husband's authority was made to Adam's wife immediately after the fall. It was revealed to the one who was to be in the subject place. "Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

Will any husband be bold enough to assert that he has never abused his authority as husband? I'm sure not. Did not the Spirit of God foresee that Christian husbands would often fail in their exercise of authority, when He indited these pointed words, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them"? Col. 3:19. When does the God-given authority of a husband over a wife cease? When he fails in the exercise of it? No! Only when death intervenes is she loosed from the law of her husband. What is the divine remedy prescribed by the Lord for our wives when we have abused our authority? SUBMISSION! (Eph. 5:22-33.) That heals! Insubjection leads to a divorce court.

The Father's Authority

The father's authority is supplementary to a husband's, and combined with it invests a man with authority as the head of a house. Its existence is assumed and its exercise is clearly portrayed from the early chapters of Genesis on to the time of the giving of the law (Exodus 20). Then children were formally commanded to honor their father and their mother (she being viewed as one with the father in their joint care of their children). This in itself implies subjection, which is enjoined on the children of Christian parents (and on other children, too, who read or hear God's Word). "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord." Col. 3:20.

What is the divine remedy prescribed by the Lord for our children when we have abused our authority?

SUBMISSION!

Is any father bold enough to assert that he has never abused his authority as a father? I'm sure not. Did not the Spirit of God foresee that Christian fathers would often fail in their exercise of authority, when He caused these searching words to be written, "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged"? Col. 3:21. When does the God-given authority of a father over his children cease? When he fails in the exercise of it? No, only when the children leave father and mother to take up new relationships owned of God in nature. What is the divine remedy prescribed by the Lord for our children when we have abused our authority? SUBMISSION! "We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. . . . They verily . . . chastened us after their own pleasure." Heb. 12:9,10. Insubjection is a moral characteristic of the "last days," as it is written, "Disobedient to parents." 2 Tim. 3:2.

The Authority of the "Powers that Be"

Authority to deal with violence against the life of man, is found in Genesis 9:6: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man." God-given authority to punish the greatest violence done to one's fellow man includes authority to deal with all lesser acts of lawlessness. With the advent of Christianity, it became necessary to define the obligations of believers in this world, a people taken out from among the Jews and the Gentiles for God's name, toward the "powers that be." Toward the civil authorities, what was the responsibility of a people who had been made partakers of a heavenly calling, whose associations of life were in heaven, and whose walk in this world (in the thoughts of God) was to be a living _expression of that calling? Romans 13:1-7 gives us this instruction (note that it is the subject party that is addressed): "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." In Titus 3:1, the charge is reiterated: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates", and again in 1 Peter 2:13: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."

What is to be our attitude when an abuse of God-given authority of this character takes place and we are the ones who suffer wrongfully? To take an extreme case (which, for the principle at stake, embraces all others), suppose that I am arrested by a man in a policeman's uniform whose badge of authority and whose warrant for my arrest are not to my certain knowledge bona fide; furthermore, he is partially intoxicated. I am absolutely innocent of the alleged crime. What shall I do? Shall I remind him that he is drunk? Shall I tell him that I do not feel obliged to obey his summons inasmuch as I am not sure that he really represents his professed jurisdiction? Shall I plead my innocence? No, I am to SUBMIT, leaving the policeman with his full responsibility toward his superiors to answer for himself, committing my own case into the hands of the judge. Surely none of us has any difficulty as to what the real character of authority is under conditions such as this, nor as to the rightness of submitting to the authority.

The Master's Authority

Sin had not been long in the world until an abnormal relationship developed: that of slavery, men with their wives and children becoming the property of masters, who did with them as they pleased. In the wisdom of a sovereign God He permitted this abnormal relationship to continue to subsist. Abram had no less than 318 menservants alone, "born in his own house." Gen. 14:14. It is not recorded in Scripture that the Lord said anything to him about setting them at liberty. The law (Ex. 21) recognized the condition of bondslavery, making a provision for the slave bought with money to go out free in the seventh year by himself, which was seldom the case.

The very place of subjection has been glorified by our Lord Himself, who "took upon Him the form of a servant."

Under grace, the same condition of slavery is taken cognizance of, but not set aside. Considering, however, the difficulties encountered by a Christian slave seeking to reconcile the will of God with that of a heathen master, if opportunity to obtain his freedom presented itself, he was to take advantage of it (1 Cor. 7:21), but this also was seldom the case. Christian bondmen, therefore, have a more numerous list of instructions addressed to them than are given to any other persons placed by God in the position of subjection.

From the instructions given to bondslaves, we see how fully we should recognize and respect a master's authority. While not bondslaves, most of us in our employment are in the servant position to our employers. How profitable these instructions are for our own souls because of the divine principles they set forth! "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive." Eph. 6:5-8. "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh." Col. 3:22-25. "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit." 1 Tim. 6:1,2. "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Tit. 2:9,10. "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. . . . Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." 1 Pet. 2:18-23. How clearly and blessedly these scriptures indicate that glory redounds to God through whole-hearted submission by those in the most trying relationship of all in this world, that of bondslaves! Indeed, the very place of subjection has been glorified by our Lord Himself, who "took upon Him the form of a servant." Phil. 2:7.

Truly, are not obedience and submission the healing principles of humanity? Obedience to the revealed will of God results in submission to divinely recognized authority. A subject wife wins a disobedient husband by her chaste conversation coupled with fear! (1 Pet. 3:1,2.) A subject Child has His ministry interrupted, so to speak, by "His parents" (Luke 2:41) who did not know that He must do His Father's business, but He "went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them"! Luke 2:51. A subject Christian apostle, captive and sport of the "powers that be," styles himself the "prisoner of the Lord"! Eph. 4:1. He thus had a door opened to proclaim the gospel of the grace of God to Agrippa and to Nero, whose abuse of their God-given authority is overruled of God in sovereign goodness to spread the truth abroad! "The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." 2 Tim. 4:17. A subject Christian servant endures grief, suffering wrongfully (1 Pet. 2:19). He thus commends Christ to a froward master and has the joy of communion in his own soul with the blessed One in whose footsteps he walks!

Authority Vested in the Assembly

As I have already stated, the delegation of authority by God presupposes the activity of the evil nature in fallen man in its manifold forms of _expression. Galatians 5:19-21 gives us an appalling list of things which each of us not walking in the Spirit is capable of doing! "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revels, and things like these; as to which I tell you beforehand, even as I also have said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit God's kingdom." (JND.) Therefore (even though we are a new creation in Christ and members in particular of the one body of Christ, vitally united by one Spirit to Him our living Head in heaven), the ever-present capability in us, individually and collectively, of giving way to the lusts of the flesh when out of communion with the Lord, makes it necessary for the Christ, as "Son over His own house" (Heb. 3:6), to make the assembly responsible for its behavior as "the house of God" (1 Tim. 3:15) here on earth. Accordingly He invested the assembly (in its local _expression) with authority to deal with "whatsoever" it judged to be inconsistent with its position as representative of Christ in this world.

An immense responsibility was thus placed upon the assembly as a responsible body! Where, in the various forms of delegated authority previously considered, whether to the husband, father, civil authority or master, do we find so solemn and so sweeping an investiture of divinely constituted authority as the Lord enunciates here? Indeed, in the former cases, the authority is assumed to be operative, and those subject to it are addressed. Wives, children, saints, and servants are acquainted with, or reminded of, their respective places of subjection. But now there is to be a new thing on earth, a church, one with Christ its Head! And through the local _expression of it, divine title is given to exercise authority.

The Lord, prefacing with His solemn "verily" this irrefutable grant to the assembly, defines its scope and character: "Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. 18:18. He that challenges the authority vested thus in the saints gathered together (be they only two or three) by the Spirit of God unto Christ's name, challenges the LORD HIMSELF, for HE is in the midst of them!

Binding and Loosing

The objection has often been raised that to hold that the Lord binds in heaven an unrighteous act bound on earth is sheer popery. Such an objection arises, I believe, because the nature of authority is not understood. Delegated authority (in this case from the Lord to the local assembly) is confounded with infallibility. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Binding, or loosing, in heaven does not in itself mean approving. Had the blessed Lord meant "Whatsoever ye shall bind or loose shall be approved in heaven," He would have said so, but He did not!

We naturally like to set aside authority in order to gratify a course of self-will and insubjection

Let us look at a scripture which gives us the principle involved in the Lord's binding of an unrighteous act (not approving it); it also shows us the profitable use to which He turns all in His divine sovereignty! "And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee . . . the Lord judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. . . . And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me." Gen. 16: 5-9,13. This is the first occurrence of the word "submit" in the Scriptures! Was Sarai's act a righteous one? No. Did the Lord set her act aside and her authority with it? He did not; He bound it! Hagar is addressed by the Lord (for verse 13 shows us who the angel in reality was!) as "Sarai's maid" at a time when she had disowned that claim under persecution. She is told to return to her mistress, and to submit herself under her hands, by the Lord Himself!

Was the Lord unrighteous in this? Of course not! But appearances are against Him, as they often are in this present evil world where the self-will of ungodly men and (sad to say) of saints themselves expresses itself. If we are walking according to man (1 Cor. 3:3), we might think thus: "How can the Lord be Himself, be righteous, be the God of light in whom is no darkness at all, and yet compel poor Hagar to submit to Sarai's harsh actions?" But "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord." Isa. 55:8. As to Sarai, the Lord brings about a disciplinary action for the good of her soul (He ever acts in sovereign goodness!) by means of the submissive action of Hagar which placed her again in the presence of Sarai, thus daily affording Sarai a reminder that she had brought all the sorrow in this situation upon herself by her own act of unbelief in the first place. (Gen. 16:3.) What a chastening of soul, certainly not joyous, this was for Sarai! Do we not plainly see in all this that the Lord knew how to discipline Sarai without for one moment setting aside her authority to "guide the house" (1 Tim. 5:14) as mistress there? But we naturally like (and are little aware how far the evil propensity is allowed in us) to set aside authority in order to gratify a course of self-will and insubjection.

Please bear with me while I refer again to other familiar scriptures which also give the principle of the Lord's binding an overbearing act, not approving it, also using it in His ways with His people as a judgment of their state; all of this too is in connection with the preservation of a testimony by the Lord Himself to that which He had set up, and as to which He said through the prophet Ahijah, "That David My servant may have a light alway before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there." 1 Kings 11:36. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16,17.

The Lord's Dealings with Failure

In the history of the Lord's dealings with His earthly people (and surely we are agreed that God's moral principles never change), while sovereignly maintaining "a light alway before [Him] in Jerusalem," I believe that we should discern that the Lord acted on the principle of Matthew 18:18 long before He ever enunciated it for the maintenance of a heavenly testimony in this dispensation. Let us look at this history briefly. In 1 Kings 11:1-10, we have the saddening account of the departure of heart of the wisest man on earth, King Solomon, from the Lord. In verse 33, the apostasy of the tribes of Israel is also disclosed. The Church, too, has long since left its first love (Rev. 2:4). Furthermore, those whom God mercifully delivered from spiritual Babylon a few generations back, and to whom He recovered "all the counsel of God," have alas! also left their first love. The Lord personally tells Solomon (vv. 11-13) that his kingdom is to be divided, only one tribe being spared for David His servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which He had chosen. The Lord, through Paul, has warned the Church most solemnly that His discriminating judgments would sift the saints on the earth: "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." 1 Cor. 11:18,19. But in Revelation 3:7-13, He marks out a spared remnant, for it is Himself that keeps the door opened! For the sake of David, the man after God's own heart, and for the sake of Jerusalem which He had chosen as His divine, earthly center, the Lord spared a tribe in Israel. For Jesus' sake, for the sake of Him who has bought the Church with His own blood, and for the sake of a little corporate testimony to and _expression of the one body (of which He is the Head) on earth, the Lord will sovereignly spare twos and threes gathered to His name. In either case, it is sovereign grace acting for itself and for the glory of Christ (Jehovah of the Old Testament). It is not on the ground of human merit, for on that basis all was lost in Israel and has been in the Church.

Why have saints gone into division in every generation? They have not had the person of Christ . . . in power before their souls!

The Lord then told Jeroboam, by the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29-38) that he was to get ten tribes; He told him why, "Because that they have forsaken Me." v. 33. Nevertheless, in His sovereignty He preserved a tribe, twice repeating what in substance He had already told King Solomon, namely, that Rehoboam should have one tribe for David His servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which He had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. The Lord plainly informed all parties concerned that He was about to bring a judgment of scattering upon Israel and upon its king, but that He would sovereignly maintain a testimony for Himself nevertheless!

How was the Lord's judgment executed? But more important still, on what principle does the tribe act which is sovereignly preserved? We have the account in 1 Kings 12:1-24. Rehoboam rashly wielded his newly acquired authority as "the power," as the king of all Israel, and boasted before the people of the oppressions he would impose. His abuse of his divinely constituted authority directly resulted in the rebellion of the ten tribes. But this manifested (what God knew beforehand, namely) the state of their hearts! They had not valued David! This state was not a new one; it was there in the bud when David returned to Jerusalem after the death of Absalom. See 2 Samuel 19:41 to 20:2. The person of him who was a man after God's own heart was nothing to them. Notice that the ten tribes said nothing about Rehoboam, but this: "What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David." 1 Kings 12:16.

Why have saints gone into division in every generation (for God sifts His people) since the truth was recovered to them and acted upon over a century ago? They have not rightly valued the true David! They have not had the person of Christ, the Head of the Church, which is His body, in power before their souls! They have not held the Head (Col. 2:19). In consequence (as with the ten tribes of Israel) the Lord in His discipline has His instrument ready, and when He allows that which crosses their will to develop into a trial of testing, these saints have found a man ready to lead them away, and to keep them away, from the true Center which they have left, Christ in the midst of those gathered unto His name; a Man whom God has marked out beforehand to those who really own the Lord in the midst and bow to His authority.

Did the Lord set aside the authority of Rehoboam now that he had abused it? No! 1 Kings 12:23, makes that plain. "Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people."

On what principle was Judah (and little Benjamin reckoned with it) preserved from abandonment of the divine center in Jerusalem, where the Lord's name had been placed? On the simple principle, or principles, of obedience and submission. They saw through Rehoboam the king and beyond to Jehovah the God of Israel! In obedience to Him they submitted to the unrighteous act of the king. "But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." v. 17. "There was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only." v. 20. By bowing under Rehoboam's unrighteous exercise of his authority, they remained on divine ground. They cherished the place which the Lord had chosen to put His name there, the place where the ark was and where He dwelt between the cherubim! "There am I in the midst of them." The principle on which Judah acted, then, was the principle of submission to an unrighteous act committed by the man invested with regal authority by God at His true center on earth.

How, then, did the Lord in His governmental ways deal with Rehoboam? Did he reap what he had sown? Indeed he did! A very casual reading of his history shows that he was in continual trouble, from within and from without. "And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days." 1 Kings 14:30. "And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord." 2 Chron. 12:2. Does not this show that the Lord knows how to discipline a king without for one moment setting aside his authority? Moreover, since the divinely chosen center of worship was at the same place as the king's seat of government, is it not highly significant that the Lord's determined maintenance of the place which He had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there is carefully mentioned right in the middle of the summary of Rehoboam's history? "Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign . . . in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess." 1 Kings 14:21. (See also 2 Chron. 12:13.)

"The Lord uses our brethren to heat the furnace in which He tries our faith."

The Lord does not abrogate or negate divinely constituted authority because of abuse, and that in the very place which He has chosen to place His name there (to use Old Testament language), "where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (to use New Testament language). Questions like these bring matters to a focal point. The Lord's "whatsoever" of Matthew 18:18 is no new principle with Him, but the very one He has always acted upon (both as the bestower and maintainer of authority, and also as subject to authority in the "days of His flesh").

The blessed Lord of all (Acts 10:36), "both theirs and ours" (1 Cor. 1:2), submitted when one of His creatures who possessed divinely constituted authority as a ruler in this world wickedly wielded that very power against Him, the "Lord of glory"! 1 Cor. 2:8. Please read John 19:10,11. While telling Pilate where his grant of authority originated, that its origin was from above, the Lord Jesus submits to its wrong use, committing His cause to Him that judgeth righteously! Are we not told in 1 Peter 2:21 that Christ has left us an example, that we should follow His steps? What better opportunity than when under discipline from our brethren? It has often been quoted: "The Lord uses our brethren to heat the furnace in which He tries our faith."

Submission and Restoration

As to restoration of some individuals, however, to the divine Center of gathering, we notice the following in the history of the ten tribes: "And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel" (not of Judah merely, note!) "came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers." 2 Chron. 11:16. This is restoration after a divine sort, as also a later one in Hezekiah's day, long after the division had taken place in Israel; Hezekiah "sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel. . . . So the posts passed from city to city, through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless, divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. . . . So there was great joy in Jerusalem." 2 Chron. 30. Thus the Lord graciously used Hezekiah's faithful letters of entreaty, words of "grace, seasoned with salt," to recover individuals to His true and only center of worship at Jerusalem, where Jehovah Himself dwelt between the cherubim. May the Lord graciously grant a like recovery with individuals in this our day of weakness!

By weakness and defeat

He won the meed and crown,

Trod all our foes beneath His feet

By being trodden down.

Bless, bless the Conqueror slain,

Slain in His victory;

Who lived, who died, who lives again --

For thee, His church, for thee!

While we chafe under the flesh intruding into the disciplinary acts of an assembly which has divine authority, do we forget that the flesh may also act in an individual, who does not have authority?

I believe that at the bottom there is always a measure of unbelief along with insubjection. We do not believe the grand truth that

"God is for us."

In the wisdom of God He deigns to use our very failures as a means of chastening (which for the present does not seem joyous, but grievous) to some of His dear children who are the objects of assembly discipline. And is not this one of the ways in which He makes manifest the hidden state of our hearts? Here in the wilderness He brings out, for both ourselves and others to discover, whether we are really "meek and lowly in heart," or unbroken in will. Submission, and obedience to God in it, are what He looks for. Another has written as follows:

"Circumstances would not trouble if they did not find something in us contrary to God; they would rustle by as the wind.

"Until the will has been crushed in the presence of the majesty of God, there cannot be a right state before God."

I believe that at the bottom there is always a measure of unbelief along with insubjection. We do not believe the grand truth that "God is for us," ready and able, if He sees fit, to vindicate us Himself, if we have been in any way wronged by individuals or assemblies. In general, however, instead of ordering circumstances to vindicate us, He lets us suffer wrongfully. Later on, when we have grasped the lesson He is teaching, we discover that He has vindicated Himself, though through the instrumentality of the very ones who wronged us!

"Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight" was the heart-language of the Lord Jesus when everything was going against Him here. He was content to commit His cause to Him that judgeth righteously, never lifting a finger to vindicate Himself! Are we?

The Lord pledges His keeping power (Rev. 3:10) to those who keep the word of His patience. To seek to hold fast to divine principles when they are being given up all around puts patience to the test. To be content to have His approval alone, though but few are found to walk with, is the fruit of God's work in the soul.

The Lord holds forth wonderful encouragement to His tried saints: "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." They have something which the Lord values. "Hold it," He says, "until I come!" Furthermore, these despised ones here are to have the preeminent place there in the glory: made "a pillar" in the temple of His God! (Rev. 3:12.)

James H. Smith



We Ought to Obey God

What if man uses his God-given authority to try and make us do something contrary to God's instructions? The disciples in Acts 5 faced this situation and their actions show us God's will in the matter.

The high priest and those with him put the apostles in prison for teaching and healing in the Lord's name. The angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and says to the apostles, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." This the disciples do. They are arrested and brought before the high priest who says: "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?" Peter and the apostles respond, "We ought to obey God rather than men." After discussing the matter among themselves, the authorities beat the disciples and again command them not to speak in the name of Jesus. They let them go and the disciples continue to teach and to preach Jesus Christ.

God is the ultimate authority. If man abuses his God-given authority and commands a person to disobey God, then the instruction for the person is -- we obey God rather than man. This does not give liberty to refuse authority because one does not agree with the judgment of the authority or because the authority is acting unjustly. We do not submit if the act of submission would make us disobey God, that is, make us sin.

The perfect example of submission to the cruel, unjust abuse of authority is the Lord's submission to Pilate. He could and did submit (without disobeying God) to Pilate's abuse of authority in unrighteously condemning him to death. May His example ever guard our hearts and consciences from rebellion against the authorities He has established and lead us into the healing path of obedience and submission.

JHS

Tone of Meetings
Now Playing: Are we in a right state of soul before the Lord ?
Topic: Spiritual State
Where the tone of things is felt to be low, and meetings to be unprofitable, and some things repeatedly out of place, let all who feel it wait on God continually, believing, and He will assuredly hear and answer. These very trials and exercises which are peculiar to the Assembly of God will have the happy effect of casting us more on Him, and thus the eater will yield meat and the strong sweetness.

These trials and difficulties can be expected in the assembly beause it is right and divine. The devil will put forth every effort to drive us from that true and holy ground. He will try our patience, hurt our feelings and cause offense in numberless ways: anything to make us forsake the assembly.

Divine ground can only be held by faith. This marks the assembly of God and distinguishes it from every human system.

C H Mackintosh

Sound of the Trumpet
Now Playing: Are we building for Him and with His people ?
Topic: Laboring
The sound of the trumpet

Numbers 10:9:
"And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies."

2 Corinthians 7:5
"...but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears..."

"But even this is not enough. Nehemiah tells the nobles: "The work is great and extended, and we are scattered upon the wall, one far from another: in what place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, thither shall ye assemble to us; our God will fight for us" (vv. 19, 20).

To be effective, the work must be a combined effort. When the enemy appears, believers must not be found scattered, and if there is no combined resistance at the point of attack, they are sure to succumb. The adversary takes advantage of the scattered condition of the children of God, and their gathering together is what is most contrary to him, because he knows that this multiplies their strength. And so his first concern, when he attacks them, is to sow discord and divisions among them.

That is the reason why this call of God: "Assemble to us", still resounds on every side, as in the days of Nehemiah. We have a center of gathering. Let us gather together around our Head. The trumpet has already resounded so as to be heard by one and all. Let us make haste; let us not say: My work is enough for me. No, our Head says, it is not enough, for if the enemy finds you isolated, he will destroy both you and your work. The danger is threatening.

Let us gather together instead of scattering. May we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the assemblies. It is all very well to build in front of one's home, but it is the general interests of the people of God which claim all our energy in view of our brothers. That is why the trumpet calls us together. Soon, when the battle is over, the trumpet will gather us for the last time where there is no more question of building or of self-defense, but where we will enjoy eternal rest in peace!"

Dr H L Rossier

On What ?
Now Playing: What are we "On" in our daily walk?
Topic: Spiritual State
"How encouraging to trace the way in which Habakkuk is led from being on his face in anguish of soul before God because of the failure of His people (ch. 1); to take his stand on the watch-tower, to hear the words of the Lord, (ch. 2). Then, having learned the mind of the Lord, to see him on his knees in prayer, with the result that finally he walks on high places with joy in his heart and praise on his lips." (ch.3)
(excerpted from Hamilton Smith)

Seeking for Truth
Now Playing: Are we earnestly desiring His Truth for our souls?
Topic: Verses
2 Corinthians 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Galatians 2:5

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 4:16

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Galatians 5:7

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 4:21

If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Ephesians 4:25

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Ephesians 5:9

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Philippians 1:18

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached;
and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Colossians 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Colossians 1:6

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Thessalonians 2:10

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1 Timothy 2:4

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Doctrine based upon the Word of God
Now Playing: How do we discern what is right doctrine?
Topic: Foundation
Proverbs 4:2

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Matthew 7:28

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his
doctrine:

Matthew 15:9

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 16:12

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the
doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 22:33

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Mark 1:22

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not
as the scribes.

Mark 1:27

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is
this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and
they do obey him.

Mark 4:2

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Mark 7:7

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 11:18

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

Mark 12:38

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

Luke 4:32

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

John 7:16

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of myself.

John 18:19

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers.

Acts 5:28

Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye
have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Acts 13:12

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Acts 17:19

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine,
whereof thou speakest, is?

Romans 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that
form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

1 Corinthians 14:6

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I
shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

1 Corinthians 14:26

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a
doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying.

Ephesians 4:14

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Colossians 2:22

Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?

1 Timothy 1:3

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest
charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1 Timothy 1:10

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for
perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 Timothy 4:6

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus
Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1 Timothy 4:13

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt
both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in
the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

2 Timothy 3:10

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience,

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 2:1

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 2:7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,
gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:10

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour in all things.

Searching for the Word of Truth
Now Playing: Where has God given us words of truth?
Topic: Verses
Psalms 33:4

For the word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth.

Psalms 119:43

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in Thy judgments.

Psalms 138:2

I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

Proverbs 22:21

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the
words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Ecclesiastes 12:10

The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

Hosea 4:1

Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 17:17

Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.

Acts 26:25

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

2 Corinthians 4:2

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 6:7

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Colossians 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

James 1:18

Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Quotes Part 10
Now Playing: Is Christ everything to us and His will our only guide?
Topic: Quotes
*** If we delight in God's glory, we shall delight to honour those whom God honours.

*** Love your brethren, serve them faithfully, overlook all the faults you can but make none of them the object of your Christian life - let it be Christ.

*** Never disturb the peace of the assembly unless the glory of God demands it.

*** If I were asked what characterizes this present dispensation I would say the presence of the Holy Spirit as a divine Person here on earth.

*** The Lord's coming - the moment when Christ takes His bride - is the moment for which all other moments were made for the Christian.

*** It is wonderful to lay our head on our pillow at night and know that we have walked with God through the day. Keep it as a sweet secret!

*** If it gives you pleasure to speak about the failures of your brethren, you are not walking with God.

*** Do not expect righteousness from an unrighteous world.

*** When we give to the Lord [of our resources] He repays so bountifully that we are ashamed to take it.

*** When heaven was opened upon Jesus, it looked down with delight -- we look up and are changed.

*** If you could have chosen a period of time in which to have lived you couldn't have chosen a more blessed time than the present - especially with the Lord's coming so imminent.

Quotes Part 9
Now Playing: What do we look for and what should we expect?
Topic: Quotes
*** The moral principles of God do not change with dispensations.

*** If we delight in God's glory, we shall delight to honour those whom God honours.

*** Love your brethren, serve them faithfully, overlook all the faults you can but make none of them the object of your Christian life - let it be Christ.

*** If I were asked what characterizes this present dispensation I would say the presence of the Holy Spirit as a divine Person here on earth.

*** The Lord's coming - the moment when Christ takes His bride - is the moment for which all other moments were made for the Christian.

*** It is wonderful to lay our head on our pillow at night and know that we have walked with God through the day. Keep it as a sweet secret!

*** If it gives you pleasure to speak about the failures of your brethren, you are not walking with God.

*** Do not expect righteousness from an unrighteous world.

*** When we give to the Lord [of our resources] He repays so bountifully that we are ashamed to take it.

*** When heaven was opened upon Jesus, it looked down with delight -- we look up and are changed.

*** If you could have chosen a period of time in which to have lived you couldn't have chosen a more blessed time than the present - especially with the Lord's coming so imminent.

Quotes Part 8
Now Playing: What is it that truly governs the affairs of our life?
Topic: Quotes
*** There is no such thing as "Good Luck" or being fortunate. Nothing happens by chance to the Christian. Why not say "through mercy" or "through the Lord's goodness." Why not His ordering?

*** When we get home to glory and have a backward look over our history, we will find He was doing the very best He could for us each day of our lives according to our state of soul.

*** The grandest truth that I have discovered in all the word of God is this - that God became a man in Christ, walked throughout this world as a man, died on the cross as a man, then arose from among the dead, to remain a man forever - why - that He might enjoy our companionship for all eternity. (1 Cor. 15:28)

*** The Word of God came not by the will of man but rather is addressed to all with authority from God. It is the only book in the world whose prophecies are unfailingly true, because man cannot tell the future. It is also the only book that the natural man cannot understand. It is not written so as to work on the emotions and does not record the physical characteristics of Christ or the Apostles but rather gives us their moral features. There is nothing in Scripture contrary to reason - yet it does contain what is beyond reason, and must necessarily do so, because it comes from God. It brings together the answer to the truth of Light and Love and nothing is needed outside the Word to receive life, or to walk in godliness.

*** Read the Word of God, the Bible, until your mind is so saturated with it that you think and act in the light of Scripture.

*** Psalm 94:12-13 is the key to the whole book of the Psalms. Isaiah 5:4 is the key to the whole of the Old Testament. John 11:52 is the key to the book of Acts. Ephesians 1:10 is the key to the whole Bible.

*** The only failure of an Old Testament saint recorded in the New Testament is that of Elijah making intercession to God against Israel (Romans 11:2-3).

*** The book of Proverbs gives us heavenly wisdom for an earthly pathway.

*** "The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children" (2 Cor. 12:14), and that does not just mean money!

*** What are we in the world for, to get rich - no - we are here to learn the manifold grace and wisdom of God.

*** The world says, "You must know something of evil." God says, "Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." You get just as black fighting a chimney sweep as you do hugging him.

*** No ceremonial is worth a straw if the heart does not honour Christ.

*** By religious forms, man is made religious without possessing holiness. Anything that exalts man is not of God.

*** False religion will send more people to hell than anything else.

*** Christianity is not an adjunct of Judaism but an entirely separate and distinct work of God.

*** Not one thing that you know is the result of your reason; it is either testimony or experience. What do you know? - Did reason tell you or faith?

*** Faith and salvation go together. Obedience and happiness go together.

*** Do not look at the people that persecute you, but the reason why you are persecuted.

*** God never takes us out of the difficulties into which our folly has plunged us, but He will be with us in them.

Quotes Part 7
Now Playing: How do we treat others for whom Christ died ?
Topic: Quotes
*** You and I should love saints no matter how unlovely they appear outwardly. They are dear to Him; if we walk with God we love them without effort.

*** Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, our minds make up our moral history in this world. We are what we love and think about as an object, and this forms the whole pattern of our life down here.

*** At His coming we are going to be like Christ - morally and physically.

*** Gift is not sanctified [natural] ability. Gift is not godliness.

*** Communion with Christ can only be kept up by constant watchfulness. The consciousness that God is with you gives power. There is no substitute for communion.

*** The minute I see a brother or a sister trying to get folks on their side on any question, I know that they are not walking in the wisdom of God.

*** Walk with God and the Spirit of God will always testify as to the rightness of your ways.

*** If the world can understand your life, you are not walking with God. The nearer we walk with God, the more we become an oddity to the world.

*** We should be humble and happy. Humble because we are so little like Him and happy because He loves us so.

*** If there is one thing more than another that we need to guard against, it is to watch lest the heart's affections grow cold.

*** The moment my affections grow cold, my feet are going to wander and the world is going to get into my heart.

*** The one longing desire of my heart in ministry is to so plant Christ in the affections of Christians that they will desire to live in Him.

*** It is unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God that is in the root of all coldness, carelessness and lack of earnestness in the things of God.

*** One of the evil fruits of long continued spiritual negligence, is the soul's ignorance of its own state.

*** From the time you open your eyes in the morning till you close them at night, everything you see and hear tends to put the world into your heart.

*** If you set your heart upon an automobile it may burn up or you may have an accident and it will be destroyed; but if you set your heart on Christ you will never lose your object

*** The deception and power of present things is of the Devil, the perception of them is of God.

*** The higher we get in this world - the closer we get to the god and prince of it. God does not train His servants in the college of brick and stone - He trains them in the school of adversity.

*** Our special mark of a "sound mind" is readiness to take counsel of God.

*** All true knowledge, all moral knowledge, begins by putting God in His place; nothing is right and true without that.

*** The world says, "You must know something of evil." God says, "Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." You get just as black fighting a chimney sweep as you do hugging him.

*** The wisdom of God is not an extension of man's wisdom, it is not an improvement of man's wisdom, but in every case, it is the opposite of man's wisdom.

*** The book of Proverbs gives us heavenly wisdom for an earthly pathway.

*** All true knowledge, all moral knowledge, begins by putting God in His place: nothing is right or true without that.

*** What are we in this world for, to get rich - no - we are here to learn the manifold grace and wisdom of God.

*** No ceremonial is worth a straw if the heart does not honour Christ.

*** By religious forms, man is made religious without possessing holiness. Anything that exalts man is not of God.

*** False religion will send more people to hell than anything else.

*** Not one thing that you know is the result of your reason; it is either testimony or experience. What do you know? - Did reason tell you or faith?

*** Are you a mother? Do not be satisfied to tell your children the way of salvation. Tell them about the beauties of Christ; give the wisdom of the Word and seek to guide their footprints through this world into that faith and faithfulness that should characterize the family of God (2 Tim. 1:5)

Quotes Part 6
Now Playing: Do we know the heart of man and the heart of God?
Topic: Quotes
*** Every unconverted man that you meet is governed by two things; his own lusts, and public opinion.

*** Never count your converts - you will never count enough.

*** We can have as much of Christ as we want, and our lives show how much we want of Him.

*** God has given the work of Christ for our consciences, the Person of Christ for our meditation; and the love of Christ to warm our hearts.

*** This world is not an adequate platform for the manifestation of the ways of God in government [but Israel was].

*** Every exhortation of scripture is founded upon what we possess, it is not a matter of attainment, and God uses exhortation to show us what we possess.

*** We break bread, if intelligently, not merely as forgiven sinners, but as members of the body of Christ.

*** God intends that we should breath by faith, the atmosphere of heaven before we get there.

*** Death is the principle of Christianity; resurrection is its power.

*** Christian obedience is not law-keeping, but delight in love, giving subjection to the will of another, whether expressed or not.

*** The blood of Christ puts my sins away - the death of Christ puts me away - the cross of Christ separates me from the world.

*** You never met a man who walked with God, who at the end of his life said, "I wish I hadn't done it?" and you never will.

*** The sovereignty of God does not lessen man's responsibility. Scripture treats man as a sinner, to be restored to God or judged. Rationalists, as a race to be educated.

*** The unconverted mind of man is the plaything of the devil.

*** I never knew a man to get converted by getting a raise in pay. It's a man's need that brings him to Christ.

*** The first great step, when a man desires to be saved, is unqualified self-condemnation.

*** Conversion is the turning of the heart and will to God through grace. The fear of God is the setting aside of will.

*** God is sufficient unto Himself in every thing but love. He must have objects to love.

*** Man measures sin by man's treatment of man. God measures sin by man's treatment of Christ.

*** In God's presence sin is not measured by transgression, but by what God is.

*** All our unhappiness and failure, whether as saint of sinner, springs from unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God for us.

*** Anything that robs your soul of joy in the Lord, robs you of the richest treasure you know in life's pathway.

*** All our intelligence and all our happiness depends upon how we treat the Divine guest that dwells within.

Quotes Part 5
Now Playing: Are we facing disappointment or His appointment in our lives?
Topic: Quotes
*** Truth that requires faith to walk by, is resisted by the natural heart.

*** Not one right thought of God ever entered the heart of man through his intellect, but through the conscience.

*** The conscience is the guide to true knowledge. It never turns infidel.

*** He puts sorrow and joy together on our road home; tribulation and joy together; deep poverty and joy together.

*** The thickest cloud brings the heaviest showers of blessing.

*** Little by little with the skill of a master's hand and the gentleness of a Father's heart He woos with His love and weans us through circumstances from earth to heaven.

*** The divine nature is shown by having God as its object.

*** His presence gives moral courage for Christian obedience.

*** Faith and salvation go together. Obedience and happiness go together.

*** We get away with nothing! Beware of the government of God. There is a government of God. Every act in your life and mine has both present and eternal consequences.

*** There is something in everyone of us, speaker included, that only God can correct.

*** The Bible never brings comfort to a Christian who is walking carelessly. Correction despised brings sharper correction.

*** God will never, never send trial into our life without a needs be (1 Peter 1:6) on our part, and a purpose of love on His part.

*** He may test your faith but He will never disappoint your faith.

*** If you did everything right, nothing would be right, except the motive was right; it is the motive that gives value to the act.

*** The motive that governs the heart is the true estimate of man's moral condition before God.

*** Happiness is a state of soul, not a question of circumstances. Circumstances do not produce your state of soul, they only manifest it.

*** It is not by change of circumstances that we can be made happy, but by submission to the will of God.

*** Never fear persecution; it will make your face shine like an angel's

*** Take your circumstances from the Lord, and your difficulties to the Lord.

*** Every blessing of God is an apex, a mountain peak, beyond which even God cannot go. If He has not won your heart and mine, what more could He do to win it.

Quotes Part 4
Now Playing: What forms our thoughts, this world or the Word?
Topic: Quotes
*** Practice the habit of meditation when you read. You will find the precious ore is there in its richness, but you will have to do a little meditation to discover it.

*** It is not what you eat that nourishes your body. It is what you digest, and it is the same with spiritual things.

*** Every time you eat, God is teaching you that life springs out of death because everything you eat dies except salt.

*** There is not a ray of light that can pierce the inky darkness that lies beyond the grave outside of the Word of God, the Bible.

*** Every time you say, "I think," you think wrongly - on every moral and spiritual subject - unless your thoughts are formed by the Word of God.

*** Anything that is not the truth [of the Word of God], is nonsense, and illogical.

*** A text without a context is a pretext. Words get their meaning from the context in which they are found.

*** Never take your thoughts to the Word of God - take your thoughts from the Word of God

*** Conscience speaks from within - never can it tell of God's character - revelation gives this.

*** Faith doesn't reason, and reason isn't faith, though faith is never unreasonable.

*** The soul never imbibes truth in Living power but as it so requires.

*** It is the hardest thing to get even Christians to see that the church's blessings are heavenly [and] not earthly.

*** Every school book, every magazine, every newspaper that you read will make the horizon of all your thoughts the world in which you live. The Word of God is the only book that tells you to lay up treasures in heaven.