BLJ: Believers need not delay is seeking a sanctified heart. Don't delay. Procrastination is the devil's weapon. Are you crucified with Christ? Have you gone outside the camp and died to self? The Holy Ghost is waiting for you. You need to consecrate all, ask specifically to be sanctified, ask urgently, and ask with expectation.
WHEN FAITH FUNCTIONS FERVENTLY
The Apostle Paul said: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." (Gal. 2:20). Words fail to express the blessedness of experiencing the death to self and the empowering of the sanctified man. Oh! the glory, as faith takes hold and becomes strong, and the soul experiences the great relief from carnal bondage. Some refer to it as "peace like a river"; others, "sweetly resting"; but all can say, "My ugly, old, carnal heart is purified; Christ is enthroned, and the Holy Ghost abides. Hallelujah!"
BLJ: What does your heart look like?
The Holy Ghost doesn't need to be begged or coerced into entering the heart which is utterly yielded and ready. The seeker will break through as naturally as drawing the next breath, when his faith takes hold and the fire falls. As he becomes conscious of the presence of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, his faith grows stronger and operates freely, without drawing attention to itself. That is the reason that "altar nurses" are so entirely out of order when they press the unyielded seeker to "take it by faith."
BLJ: The Holy Ghost looks for a willing invitation to enter.
Rev. C. B. Jernigan tells of a Rev. J. D. Scott who prayed through "...down in the straw, at an old-time mourners' bench, when there was no thought of telling a fellow to take it by faith, but they were supposed to pray till something happened." [47] Dr. J. B. Chapman said, "Faith becomes as natural as breathing when we dethrone our Idols."
How many times have we seen someone struggling long at an altar, trying to believe, and finally giving up and confessing that they had been battling over something that they had not been willing to surrender to God. When the fire falls, it isn't necessary to prod the seeker to believe. And until God is ready to send the fire, it is foolhardy for any seeker to try to "work up" enough faith to try to make it happen. For the seeker of Holiness to "take it by faith" seems so much simpler and less painful, that it becomes very tempting, but it is dangerously misleading.
BLJ: Don't be deceived with the "take it by faith crowd." Pay the price, die out and as the old-timers would say, "like an old yellow dog under the back porch."
"Oh! Where am I drifting?
Oh! who can foretell me my doom!
Oh! Where am I drifting?
Out, out into eternity's gloom!"
PROCRASTINATION'S PAYDAY
The old-time holiness people used to urge their new converts to seek holiness without delay. True conversion should cause people to desire to press on into the sanctified experience until they know beyond a shadow of doubt that the work is done. It was unbelief that kept the carnally-rebellious Children of Israel from entering Canaan Land (Heb. 3:19). Unbelief will cause people of our day to feel that their need is not as great as God describes it, and that holiness is not entirely necessary, and that God's command: "Be ye holy" (I Peter 1:15-16), is not imperative. Such people will disregard the warnings of Heb. 3 and 4 and will die in the spiritual wilderness.
BLJ: Don't delay. The Holy Ghost is waiting for your invitation.
Any unnecessary delay in getting sanctified is alway a bad risk. When God convicts one of his carnality, that soul should start at once seeking to be sanctified. Any needles delay is dangerous because the sense of urgency will die down while the issue is cooling. In the meantime Satan will take every advantage of the carnality in one's heart, and use it to cause the converted one to feel defeated, become discouraged, and give up. Then the devil has him. Procrastination has its perilous payday.
The old-time holiness people used to talk about dying like a yellow dog under a back porch. By that expression they meant for the "dying to self" to be without delay, quickly accomplished, and with a finality akin to the death of a dog. The true holiness people have always believed in the crucifixion of self, and anyone who did not believe in it was considered a heretic.
God will never assume the controls of your life until you relinquish them unconditionally to Christ. That is what self hates to do. God would be pulling one way and self the other. God would never accept such mockery. God is a gentleman, and will not take anything away from you which you will not give up, nor will He force anything onto you which you don't want. The only safe course is to die out in full surrender, and do it without delay.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Monday, January 6, 2020
Don't Be Deceived
BLJ: A question I sometimes ask myself when I see a "holiness pretender" is whether the person knows he or she is pretending. When ministry reduces second blessing holiness to just trying your best and taking it by faith, or even worse in my opinion, seeing holiness as individual acts of consecration as opposed to a divine act of eradication of carnality, they perpetuate a church that will not reproduce and will not evangelize. The deceived become future deceivers.
THE DECEIVED BECOME DECEIVERS
All seekers of holiness who fail to "die out" to the carnality in their hearts, if they think they receive the blessing of holiness, they are fooled, and come through with a false experience and with their hearts as carnal as before. That is what may have happened to one of the best known television evangelists of our day. He seems to claim no deliverance whatsoever from his carnal nature or its manifestations. He appears not even to believe it is possible to do a very good job of suppressing his carnal traits which he calls his "weaknesses." He says, "Each and every one of us has some area of weakness we battle daily. Whether it be malice, envy, jealousy or temper, we find ourselves, time after time, going back to God and asking Him once again to forgive the same old thing."
We wonder what this man's holiness does do for him. He claims tremendous Holy Ghost power -- but what about purity? Peter said that when the Holy Spirit sanctified the Gentiles, their hearts were purified (Acts 15:9). Of what value is any gift or manifestation such as speaking in an unknown "tongue" without the work of heart-cleansing and purity?
This evangelist claims to have problems, even with malice, envy, jealousy, and temper every day! That certainly is not conforming to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). A carnal heart and a non-victorious life are no credit to God, or to His Holy Spirit, or to Christ, or to His Church. There are sinners out in the world who have never been saved who have a better record than that of battling with malice, envy, jealousy, and temper every day.
BLJ: If the pastor or evangelist does not testify to being entirely sanctified, they should become public seekers of holiness. Oh, how that would impact the congregation and encourage them also to seek holiness.
A carnally defeated life is an indignity to Christ and an insult to His precious Blood. The Word of God makes it clear: "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. " And again, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:7, 9). We are not supposed to sustain a polluted and corrupt heart while we name the Name of Christ, lest we misrepresent Him. Christ came to this world and shed His blood to fit us for life and heaven by cleansing us from all such carnal elements as malice, envy, jealousy, and temper. We must get rid of these wicked traits because they will not be allowed in heaven. Carnal pride, stubbornness and all other such traits must go.
Yes, we feel badly for the followers of this evangelist if they too must battle with the worst internal traits of carnality every day, and never know what it is to be cleansed from such vileness by the precious Blood of Christ.
BLJ: I have seen "holiness evangelists" that were no more sanctified than a blade of grass and the way they tried to lead the attendees into holiness was misleading and unbiblical. Yet, what could you expect from a person in a position of authority that had never taken the death route and died out. Now, their position of authority becomes a chain around them to hold them back from truth.
But, let us be honest ourselves! Do we not also have all too many in our own conservative holiness ranks who are living so far beneath their privileges in the gospel, as to be doing no better than the above-mentioned evangelist or his followers? It is the prayer of this writer that all who read this book and discover their carnal heart will seek the cleansing, purging, purifying power of the blood of Jesus and find complete deliverance through the ministry of the Holy Ghost.
BLJ: Let the prayer of the author be granted!
We, in the ranks of the second blessings holiness churches have people from the top echelons of leadership down to the most obscure followers, who battle daily with their carnality, sometimes suppressing it rather successfully, but are never delivered. They often become so accustomed to their carnal flare-ups that they fail to ask either God or the ones they have wronged to forgive them. Following this corrupt pattern, one could not possibly retain the first work of grace. This is one of the great reasons why there are so many in the holiness ranks who are not holy.
Jesus said of such persons: "And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:23). These deceived people supposed they were about the best Christians on earth because they worked miracles and cast out devils in Christ's Name, until Christ pronounced their doom. The purging of their own hearts of carnality is far more important than casting demons out of someone else.
"Burn, burn, O love! within my heart,
Burn fiercely night and day,
Till all the dross of earthly loves
Is burned, and burned away."
BLJ: Let our hearts be perfect in love which may sometimes cause us to proclaim a firey truth like lightening bolts from the sky.
THE DECEIVED BECOME DECEIVERS
All seekers of holiness who fail to "die out" to the carnality in their hearts, if they think they receive the blessing of holiness, they are fooled, and come through with a false experience and with their hearts as carnal as before. That is what may have happened to one of the best known television evangelists of our day. He seems to claim no deliverance whatsoever from his carnal nature or its manifestations. He appears not even to believe it is possible to do a very good job of suppressing his carnal traits which he calls his "weaknesses." He says, "Each and every one of us has some area of weakness we battle daily. Whether it be malice, envy, jealousy or temper, we find ourselves, time after time, going back to God and asking Him once again to forgive the same old thing."
We wonder what this man's holiness does do for him. He claims tremendous Holy Ghost power -- but what about purity? Peter said that when the Holy Spirit sanctified the Gentiles, their hearts were purified (Acts 15:9). Of what value is any gift or manifestation such as speaking in an unknown "tongue" without the work of heart-cleansing and purity?
This evangelist claims to have problems, even with malice, envy, jealousy, and temper every day! That certainly is not conforming to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). A carnal heart and a non-victorious life are no credit to God, or to His Holy Spirit, or to Christ, or to His Church. There are sinners out in the world who have never been saved who have a better record than that of battling with malice, envy, jealousy, and temper every day.
BLJ: If the pastor or evangelist does not testify to being entirely sanctified, they should become public seekers of holiness. Oh, how that would impact the congregation and encourage them also to seek holiness.
A carnally defeated life is an indignity to Christ and an insult to His precious Blood. The Word of God makes it clear: "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. " And again, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:7, 9). We are not supposed to sustain a polluted and corrupt heart while we name the Name of Christ, lest we misrepresent Him. Christ came to this world and shed His blood to fit us for life and heaven by cleansing us from all such carnal elements as malice, envy, jealousy, and temper. We must get rid of these wicked traits because they will not be allowed in heaven. Carnal pride, stubbornness and all other such traits must go.
Yes, we feel badly for the followers of this evangelist if they too must battle with the worst internal traits of carnality every day, and never know what it is to be cleansed from such vileness by the precious Blood of Christ.
BLJ: I have seen "holiness evangelists" that were no more sanctified than a blade of grass and the way they tried to lead the attendees into holiness was misleading and unbiblical. Yet, what could you expect from a person in a position of authority that had never taken the death route and died out. Now, their position of authority becomes a chain around them to hold them back from truth.
But, let us be honest ourselves! Do we not also have all too many in our own conservative holiness ranks who are living so far beneath their privileges in the gospel, as to be doing no better than the above-mentioned evangelist or his followers? It is the prayer of this writer that all who read this book and discover their carnal heart will seek the cleansing, purging, purifying power of the blood of Jesus and find complete deliverance through the ministry of the Holy Ghost.
BLJ: Let the prayer of the author be granted!
We, in the ranks of the second blessings holiness churches have people from the top echelons of leadership down to the most obscure followers, who battle daily with their carnality, sometimes suppressing it rather successfully, but are never delivered. They often become so accustomed to their carnal flare-ups that they fail to ask either God or the ones they have wronged to forgive them. Following this corrupt pattern, one could not possibly retain the first work of grace. This is one of the great reasons why there are so many in the holiness ranks who are not holy.
Jesus said of such persons: "And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:23). These deceived people supposed they were about the best Christians on earth because they worked miracles and cast out devils in Christ's Name, until Christ pronounced their doom. The purging of their own hearts of carnality is far more important than casting demons out of someone else.
"Burn, burn, O love! within my heart,
Burn fiercely night and day,
Till all the dross of earthly loves
Is burned, and burned away."
BLJ: Let our hearts be perfect in love which may sometimes cause us to proclaim a firey truth like lightening bolts from the sky.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
First Bible Study of the Quarter: "Solomon's Wise Choice"
This quarter we will be studying the books of Kings and Chronicles. We will be covering some significant events and people from the Old Testament. We will begin with Solomon, and then progress through the quarter with other kings such as Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Joash, and Hezekiah. We will study the lives of Elijah and Elisha. This first lesson deals with Solomon's request for wisdom to rule the people of Israel. Men in the world may appear wise, however, their knowledge, and the way they apply it, is not the "wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17). God desires to impart His wisdom on every child of His. We only need to ask. (James 1:5)
Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was brought up in luxury and wealth, with few hardships that helped develop the character of his father. When he assumes the throne, the kingdom of Israel was at its highest glory. Everything in the government was organized and there was no war. Solomon wanted to inaugurate his reign with a great religious festival. They met at Gibeon, where the ancient tabernacle was constructed by Moses. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings with a purpose of unifying the people and to show that Solomon stood by the religion of his father. This is the backdrop of the first lesson.
The first section is entitled, "God's Offer vv. 5." Can you imagine having a dream with God Almighty asking you what you want Him to give you? Some might ask for riches, power or control. However, Solomon already had youth, wealth, prosperity, glory and greatness. This seems too good to be true, but it was true. How does that apply to us today in 2020? Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said to His believers, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." In the storehouse of heaven, their awaits everything we need to live an abundant life here and now. Often, we ask too little and live beneath our privileges in Christ. We need to know what it means to abide in Christ:
1. "He that abideth in me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." John 15:5 This that abide bring forth fruit.
2. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:6 There is an ancient saying that stated that discipleship meant you walked in the dust of your master. That means you walk so closely to him that the dust he kicks up when walking will land on you.
3. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinners not." 1 John 3:6 If you have sin in your life, you are not abiding.
4. "He that keepers His commandments dwellers in Him." 1 John 3:24
Every true believer has the following offer: "Ask what I shall give thee."
The second section is entitled "Solomon's Request vv. 6-9." Solomon in response to God's offer considered four viewpoints:
1. He thought of God's mercy to his father David. That mercy was going to be continued in Solomon.
2. He realized that he was in the will of God and therefore he was free to ask and expect God's blessings.
3. He considered his youth and inexperience, "I am but a little child."
4. He realized that there was a great work to be done and he would need God's help.
Today, we have the same reasons why every child of God should make a wise choice. There is great work to be done today. The world is becoming more and more evil. Solomon displayed wisdom in his choice and we need to do the same. Our first and most sincere choice should be for wisdom to serve God acceptably, to fulfill the work He has given, and to be a blessing to others.
The third section is "God's Gifts vv. 10-15." God was pleased with Solomon's choice and granted it. Then, God gave Solomon more than he had asked. This is a fulfillment of a divine law: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) God delights in giving us the best things, but also He adds the lesser things. God will fill our cup with earthly good as He sees best for us. The same promises are to us if we will seek Him first. We are to always make God and His righteousness first in our lives, and other things will be added to us. This is the essence of entire sanctification. God is first. There is no competition in our hearts. The old man has been crucified and eradicated. With the old man gone, God will be first! That will open the door to wonderful blessings as the Lord deems in our best interest.
Solomon was promised long life, but died at 59 or 60. Why? Because he forfeited God's blessings. Read 1 Kings 11: 1-8 for the details. This proves we can forfeit God's best for us.
The Golden Text is: "Wisdom is better than rubies." (Proverbs 8:11) "True wisdom consists in the knowledge and love God, and an entire conformity to all the intentions of His truths, providences, and laws."
My summary points:
1. God will allow us to make choices. We are not robots. We have free will.
2. We should always put and seek God first. When we do, everything we need will be provided to us.
3. We can forfeit God's plan and blessings for our life through sin.
Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
Next week's lesson: "Solomon's Fall" (1Kings 11: 4-13).
Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was brought up in luxury and wealth, with few hardships that helped develop the character of his father. When he assumes the throne, the kingdom of Israel was at its highest glory. Everything in the government was organized and there was no war. Solomon wanted to inaugurate his reign with a great religious festival. They met at Gibeon, where the ancient tabernacle was constructed by Moses. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings with a purpose of unifying the people and to show that Solomon stood by the religion of his father. This is the backdrop of the first lesson.
The first section is entitled, "God's Offer vv. 5." Can you imagine having a dream with God Almighty asking you what you want Him to give you? Some might ask for riches, power or control. However, Solomon already had youth, wealth, prosperity, glory and greatness. This seems too good to be true, but it was true. How does that apply to us today in 2020? Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said to His believers, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." In the storehouse of heaven, their awaits everything we need to live an abundant life here and now. Often, we ask too little and live beneath our privileges in Christ. We need to know what it means to abide in Christ:
1. "He that abideth in me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." John 15:5 This that abide bring forth fruit.
2. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:6 There is an ancient saying that stated that discipleship meant you walked in the dust of your master. That means you walk so closely to him that the dust he kicks up when walking will land on you.
3. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinners not." 1 John 3:6 If you have sin in your life, you are not abiding.
4. "He that keepers His commandments dwellers in Him." 1 John 3:24
Every true believer has the following offer: "Ask what I shall give thee."
The second section is entitled "Solomon's Request vv. 6-9." Solomon in response to God's offer considered four viewpoints:
1. He thought of God's mercy to his father David. That mercy was going to be continued in Solomon.
2. He realized that he was in the will of God and therefore he was free to ask and expect God's blessings.
3. He considered his youth and inexperience, "I am but a little child."
4. He realized that there was a great work to be done and he would need God's help.
Today, we have the same reasons why every child of God should make a wise choice. There is great work to be done today. The world is becoming more and more evil. Solomon displayed wisdom in his choice and we need to do the same. Our first and most sincere choice should be for wisdom to serve God acceptably, to fulfill the work He has given, and to be a blessing to others.
The third section is "God's Gifts vv. 10-15." God was pleased with Solomon's choice and granted it. Then, God gave Solomon more than he had asked. This is a fulfillment of a divine law: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) God delights in giving us the best things, but also He adds the lesser things. God will fill our cup with earthly good as He sees best for us. The same promises are to us if we will seek Him first. We are to always make God and His righteousness first in our lives, and other things will be added to us. This is the essence of entire sanctification. God is first. There is no competition in our hearts. The old man has been crucified and eradicated. With the old man gone, God will be first! That will open the door to wonderful blessings as the Lord deems in our best interest.
Solomon was promised long life, but died at 59 or 60. Why? Because he forfeited God's blessings. Read 1 Kings 11: 1-8 for the details. This proves we can forfeit God's best for us.
The Golden Text is: "Wisdom is better than rubies." (Proverbs 8:11) "True wisdom consists in the knowledge and love God, and an entire conformity to all the intentions of His truths, providences, and laws."
My summary points:
1. God will allow us to make choices. We are not robots. We have free will.
2. We should always put and seek God first. When we do, everything we need will be provided to us.
3. We can forfeit God's plan and blessings for our life through sin.
Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
Next week's lesson: "Solomon's Fall" (1Kings 11: 4-13).
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Don't Fumble Your Faith
BLJ: Over the recent years, I have encountered many who believe they are sanctified wholly because they took it by faith. They got a little blessed and believed they had the real thing. Yet, in their quiet times they secretly express doubt that the work has been done. They only seem to be sanctified when things are going well for them. However, when the trials and troubles of life arise, their actions and words reveal that the work has not been done. They repeat their shallow commitment, try to believe and repeat the process again and again. This is so unnecessary. If one will take the time to take the death-route and die out one carnal trait at a time, become a public seeker (this will destroy pride), and earnestly seek a crucifixion of self, then one cannot expect a real heart purification. You will know for sure and no one can talk you out of your Biblical experience.
THE FUMBLING OF FAITH
Now, God's gifts are given under God's conditions. No more than He would grant saving faith to an unrepentant sinner, would He give sanctifying faith to a seeker who is unwilling to fully consecrate his all and fully die out to his carnal nature. When one is unwilling to let go of self, God is not going to sanctify his heart by faith. God will never do anything contrary to His nature, His will, or His wisdom. Certainly, He is not going to give the gift of faith to receive His blessing, unless we meet His conditions.
We said this faith must be exercised, but that cannot be done without God's aid. Here many come to a point of danger. Many find themselves in a position of struggling to believe, but they cannot, because carnal self has not died, and God will not enable their faith to operate. Others, also without proper groundwork, may try to "take it by faith," and go away fooled into thinking they have received the blessing of heart holiness. This leads to deep disappointment and chaotic confusion.
The late Rev. Alva Turner, one of the most saintly men we have ever known, bequeathed to the holiness people this lovely legacy: "The death route makes faith operative." There is not enough faith in the whole world to sanctify even one person who will not accept the "Via Dolorosa" to his own crucifixion.
Those who never took the "death-route" never really took the "faith-route." What they thought was faith, was presumption, because it was out of harmony with the Word of God. These deceived ones took the "presumption-route" and it led them up a dead end street and into the fog of endless confusion. It is utterly impossible to become sanctified by presumption. But remember -- those who try to take it by faith when they are not on believing ground are like a train that tries to keep on going after it has jumped the track.
BLJ: If someone can talk you out of your sanctification, then I doubt you ever had the real experience of heart holiness. Once you know you have been crucified, you simply take an inventory. Is there anything in my heart except the love of God? Am I committing known sin? Is there some duty the Lord has placed upon me that I am refusing? If the answers are "no" then you can in faith believe that your experience is up to date and top shelf as some of the old-timers would testify.
Friday, January 3, 2020
The Exercise of Faith
BLJ: In this section, Bro. Boardman discussed how faith works in an individual. While there is no set pattern, certain principles do apply. For example, faith is a gift from God. God grants faith when the conditions have been met. God will grant faith to the unsaved person when that person has repented from their sins and made restitution when applicable. Faith will be present to believe. In the same way, when one is seeking to be sanctified wholly, faith will be given when the believer has made an entire consecration and died out to their carnal traits one at a time. That is taking the death route.
THE FOUNDING OR FLOUNDERING OF FAITH
God's gift of salvation to man is always received by faith. We are saved by faith. We are sanctified by faith. We are kept by faith. We are not saved by works or by any personal merit. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9). This is a faith in God's promises and goodness and not a faith in our own works, not even in our own seeking or dying out. God gives us a two-fold objective for our faith in Heb. 11:6 "...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." First, there must be a faith in His very Nature, and second, in His willingness to meet our need in answer to diligent seeking.
But remember, real faith is a gift of God. Although we must exercise faith, the ability to do so is a gracious, loving, and direct gift from God. Just as a sinner has no ability of his own, with which to repent, nonetheless he must focus his will to do so, with God's gracious help. Therefore one receiving either regeneration or heart holiness by faith, must exercise that faith as God graciously enables him to.
In the words of Bro. Parker Maxey: "When the conditions are met, God begins to release to the individual the inner heart ability to believe. He does not release to him that ability until the conditions are met." This vital truth is confirmed in Rom. 12:3, "...according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith."
When we have completely placed ourselves on God's altar for Him to crucify, faith will come responsively and naturally. This, again, is because it is God's gift. Sanctification is His will (I Thess. 4:3), and without delay, He will begin to aid our faith, and will give the answer as we believe.
When all conditions are met, faith comes as naturally as the dawn follows the night, but not as automatically. Even with God's aid and encouragement, sometimes the human and carnal may be slow to let go and fully trust. Satan will be right there, trying to stop the seeker from taking the last step of faith.
How can we describe the human act of exercising faith? Everyone has a different experience. One may come clear to the end of self, and then experience a real battle of faith. He may be at the brink of Jordan's River, and find it difficult to take the step of faith. He may begin to express faith, even in clear terms such as, "Lord, I believe you to sanctify me just now," while faith wavers and the victory does not come. He may repeat this declaration several times, while the struggle goes on. But Thank God, He does not leave one comfortless. He honors and strengthens one's faith to the point that he rests in God, and God does the work. That soul HAS exercised faith.
BLJ: Some people struggle with the consecration and others with faith for holiness. If one has met the Biblical conditions for holiness, it is not presumptous to take a leap of faith and believe that God will do the work in their hearts.
THE FOUNDING OR FLOUNDERING OF FAITH
God's gift of salvation to man is always received by faith. We are saved by faith. We are sanctified by faith. We are kept by faith. We are not saved by works or by any personal merit. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9). This is a faith in God's promises and goodness and not a faith in our own works, not even in our own seeking or dying out. God gives us a two-fold objective for our faith in Heb. 11:6 "...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." First, there must be a faith in His very Nature, and second, in His willingness to meet our need in answer to diligent seeking.
But remember, real faith is a gift of God. Although we must exercise faith, the ability to do so is a gracious, loving, and direct gift from God. Just as a sinner has no ability of his own, with which to repent, nonetheless he must focus his will to do so, with God's gracious help. Therefore one receiving either regeneration or heart holiness by faith, must exercise that faith as God graciously enables him to.
In the words of Bro. Parker Maxey: "When the conditions are met, God begins to release to the individual the inner heart ability to believe. He does not release to him that ability until the conditions are met." This vital truth is confirmed in Rom. 12:3, "...according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith."
When we have completely placed ourselves on God's altar for Him to crucify, faith will come responsively and naturally. This, again, is because it is God's gift. Sanctification is His will (I Thess. 4:3), and without delay, He will begin to aid our faith, and will give the answer as we believe.
When all conditions are met, faith comes as naturally as the dawn follows the night, but not as automatically. Even with God's aid and encouragement, sometimes the human and carnal may be slow to let go and fully trust. Satan will be right there, trying to stop the seeker from taking the last step of faith.
How can we describe the human act of exercising faith? Everyone has a different experience. One may come clear to the end of self, and then experience a real battle of faith. He may be at the brink of Jordan's River, and find it difficult to take the step of faith. He may begin to express faith, even in clear terms such as, "Lord, I believe you to sanctify me just now," while faith wavers and the victory does not come. He may repeat this declaration several times, while the struggle goes on. But Thank God, He does not leave one comfortless. He honors and strengthens one's faith to the point that he rests in God, and God does the work. That soul HAS exercised faith.
BLJ: Some people struggle with the consecration and others with faith for holiness. If one has met the Biblical conditions for holiness, it is not presumptous to take a leap of faith and believe that God will do the work in their hearts.
Another seeker may break into the sunlight and know the work is done, so spontaneously, that he hardly realizes he exercised faith. When the last idol is on the altar, and the seeker gives up at the last point, the peace and relief may be so sweet, that he simply says, "It's done," or "He's come," or "Oh, praise God, it's real," or, "Oh, I've wanted this so long." He may not have consciously verbalized his faith in an effort to receive the blessing, but he still exercised faith.
"You will go to heaven or hell, One you must, and there to dwell; Christ will come, and quickly, too, All must meet Him, so must you. Then you will cry and want to be Happy in eternity."
BLJ: Somber words to consider. No matter your station in this life, your final destination is either heaven or hell. Think about it.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Do You Detest Depravity?
BLJ: Do you hate depravity? Is it loathsome to you? When you get to a place that you hate your carnality you will be ready to do something about it. You need to utterly detest carnality. Or, is there some parts of it that you still desire to cling to? You need to want it dead. Then, you are beginning to head toward the highway of holiness.
DETESTING DEPRAVITY
Mr. David Updegraph, a sainted Friends minister of great spiritual power, in relating his search for a clean heart, says:
I hated pride, ambition, evil tempers, and vain thoughts, but I had them, for all that, and they were a part of me. Not as acts to be repented of and forgiven, but as dispositions lying behind the acts, and promptings thereto, natural to the "Old Man" and inseparable from his presence in my being. I began to ask God, with a measure of faith, to "cast him out." Along with this desire there came a great hunger and thirst to be "filled with all the fullness of God." I longed for a clean heart and constant spirit.
BLJ: What is inside your heart that stands in opposition to God?
In this same connection, Adam Clarke affirmed: "This, indeed, is the sum and substance of the religion of Jesus Christ. We have partaken of an earthly, sensual, and devilish, nature; the design of God, by Christ, is to remove this, and to make us partaker of the Divine Nature, and save us from all the corruption, in principle and fact, which is in the world."
"Break off the yoke of inbred sin, And fully set my spirit free!
I cannot rest till pure within
Till I am wholly lost in thee."
BLJ: True freedom begins with a sanctified heart.
PAYING THE PRICE
Amanda Smith, the internationally renowned black lady evangelist, tells us that when God shed His light upon her heart for her need of entire sanctification, under the teaching of John Inskip, she recognized that she must make a total and eternal consecration. In looking about, she discovered that all she had was her black self and her washtub and washboard. These she consecrated and God sanctified her. She says: "You must make your consecration complete, and you must make it eternal. I gave everything to God. All I had was my black self and my washtub and washboard; but I gave all, and the Spirit came and sanctified my soul."
DETESTING DEPRAVITY
Mr. David Updegraph, a sainted Friends minister of great spiritual power, in relating his search for a clean heart, says:
I hated pride, ambition, evil tempers, and vain thoughts, but I had them, for all that, and they were a part of me. Not as acts to be repented of and forgiven, but as dispositions lying behind the acts, and promptings thereto, natural to the "Old Man" and inseparable from his presence in my being. I began to ask God, with a measure of faith, to "cast him out." Along with this desire there came a great hunger and thirst to be "filled with all the fullness of God." I longed for a clean heart and constant spirit.
BLJ: What is inside your heart that stands in opposition to God?
In this same connection, Adam Clarke affirmed: "This, indeed, is the sum and substance of the religion of Jesus Christ. We have partaken of an earthly, sensual, and devilish, nature; the design of God, by Christ, is to remove this, and to make us partaker of the Divine Nature, and save us from all the corruption, in principle and fact, which is in the world."
"Break off the yoke of inbred sin, And fully set my spirit free!
I cannot rest till pure within
Till I am wholly lost in thee."
BLJ: True freedom begins with a sanctified heart.
PAYING THE PRICE
Amanda Smith, the internationally renowned black lady evangelist, tells us that when God shed His light upon her heart for her need of entire sanctification, under the teaching of John Inskip, she recognized that she must make a total and eternal consecration. In looking about, she discovered that all she had was her black self and her washtub and washboard. These she consecrated and God sanctified her. She says: "You must make your consecration complete, and you must make it eternal. I gave everything to God. All I had was my black self and my washtub and washboard; but I gave all, and the Spirit came and sanctified my soul."
"Rouse up, brother! rouse up, sister! Seek, Oh seek this holy state."
The greatly loved and renowned Amy Carmichael said, "If I refuse to be a corn of wheat that falls into the ground and dies...then I know nothing of Calvary love."
It matters little, if one would call it the "death-route" or the "death-journey" or the "death-march" or the "death-blow." The essential thing is that everyone seeking a deeper experience in holiness, must die, dead! dead! dead! -- dead to self; dead to the world; dead to every carnal trait; dead to sin; dead to everybody and everything; past, present and future, if one would be sanctified, with the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost (Rom. 5:5). The negative dying must precede the positive purity in order for the purity to be valid.
Some poet, unknown to us, who evidently knew from experience what he was talking about said:
"Oh my life was incomplete; Partly bitter, partly sweet; Until I let the Old Man die."
BLJ: It is a sweet experience to die out to self and be sanctified wholly.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
New Years Day Review
BLJ: On the beginning of the New Year, consider the below stories and challenge yourself to go deeper and more committed to God in 2020.
At The Coming In Of The Year...
THOMAS WALSH REVIEWED HIS PREVIOUS YEAR, 1750
"At the close of this last day of the year I examined myself how I had lived the past year; and could only say, I had not wickedly departed from my God: but was heartily ashamed that I had not glorified Him better, resolving to watch for the time to come." Thomas Walsh was one of John Wesley's early followers -- a man who was sanctified wholly and who advocated the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification as a second, definite work of grace. This excerpt is from hdm0377, "The Lives Of Early Methodist Preachers, Chiefly Written By Themselves" Edited by Thomas Jackson
In regard to reviewing the previous year, James Caughey wrote: "As these calendars are of use to the end of the year, so is the record of our past religious feelings to the end of life. Who would cast away his almanac when only the half of the year has expired? -- hdm0937, "Revival Miscellanies" by James Caughey
The coming in of the New Year is often preceded by a time at the close of the Old Year wherein earnest Christians review the past, and particularly the past twelve months of their lives.
JOHN S. INSKIP RECORDED HIS CONSECRATION
According to Edward Gibbon in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," the oath of service and fidelity to the emperor was annually renewed by the troops on the first of January. Below, we read of the fidelity of John S. Inskip to the King of kings:
"Monday Jan. 1, 1866. -- Upon returning from meeting, I feel that before retiring to rest I must record my consecration. I am devoutly thankful to God for His many mercies during the year that has passed away. I praise Him that He has enabled me to continue in the way of faith. If spared, I intend to live nearer to Jesus. Afresh I dedicate myself to the service of God. I give to Him my little all, and solemnly declare that I am and will be forever the Lord's. All my faculties and powers -- my life, influence, substance, and reputation, I renewedly devote to God, and declare that henceforth I will love and glorify Him forever. I will labor to promote His glory, and trust in Him for grace to guide, comfort, and support me. I again, and, if possible, in a fuller sense than ever, consecrate to Him all I have and am. My wife, home, and all, I give to Thee, O Lord, to be Thine. In testimony of which I hereunto affix my hand and seal, on this the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. -- hdm0131, "Life Of Rev. John S. Inskip" by William McDonald and John E. Searles
BLJ: How is your oath of service?
A TITHING FARMER WAS PROTECTED FROM POTATO BUGS
The following story was once related to George Douglas Watson, after the farmer's pastor said to him: "Tell Brother Watson about these potatoes, great big luscious potatoes of which we were partaking." The farmer said:
"Well, I got saved about eight years ago and began to tithe all my crops. Last year, at the beginning of the year, the potato bugs were terrible in our community. I prayed about it and said, Now, Father, Thou knowest I am Thine entirely. All I have is Thine, wife, children, horses, cattle and potatoes. Now, rebuke the bugs; take care of my crop.
"The farm adjoining mine on one side was literally devoured. The man expected one hundred bushels of potatoes and had only three bushels. The man on the other side had only five bushels. My place was right in between these two farms, which were devoured by potato bugs and I did not see a bug in my patch. We had potatoes in abundance and peddled around loads of God's potatoes to poor folks, widows and preachers. I put God to a test and He has proved to me He will rebuke the potato bugs." -- hdm0561, "How To Attract Prosperity" by John Marvin Hames
HE WAS SAVED AFTER THE DANCE
Paul Brodbeck relates the following story:
In the spring of 1837 we moved to Portsmouth, Ohio. I commenced going to the Methodist church with my wife, and gradually became attached to their doctrine and modes of worship; but at the same time I was very fond of the ball-room and the dance.
On the evening of the 31st of December, 1837, we had a great ball in town, and at the same time the Methodists held a watch-night meeting. After spending the forepart of the night at the ball-room, dancing, suddenly something seemed to say to me, "The Methodists hold a watch-night, and you must go and see what they are doing." Accordingly I left the ball-room about nine o'clock, and went to the church and heard a sermon by Rev. Henry Turner, then preacher in charge of Bigelow Chapel. I listened with great attention, but could not hear any thing that -- as I then thought -- suited my case. At the close of the sermon the minister descended from the pulpit, came into the altar, and invited all seekers of religion to come forward and kneel around the altar for the prayers of the Church, and seek the salvation of their souls.
While some were going forward for prayer and some were joining the Church, my conscience told me, "You must go, for you are a great sinner, or you will be eternally lost." Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, but yielded to the convictions of the moment, went forward, joined the Church, and threw myself down at the altar, and prayed and wrestled like Jacob of old, till nearly twelve o'clock at night, when, by the grace of God, I was enabled to shout "glory," having obtained redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of my sins. My wife all this time thought I was at the ball-room; and when I came home and told her what the Lord had done for me, she also shouted to God for his great mercy. -- hdm2028, "Experience Of German Methodist Preachers" by Adam Miller
Happy New Year!!!
At The Coming In Of The Year...
THOMAS WALSH REVIEWED HIS PREVIOUS YEAR, 1750
"At the close of this last day of the year I examined myself how I had lived the past year; and could only say, I had not wickedly departed from my God: but was heartily ashamed that I had not glorified Him better, resolving to watch for the time to come." Thomas Walsh was one of John Wesley's early followers -- a man who was sanctified wholly and who advocated the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification as a second, definite work of grace. This excerpt is from hdm0377, "The Lives Of Early Methodist Preachers, Chiefly Written By Themselves" Edited by Thomas Jackson
In regard to reviewing the previous year, James Caughey wrote: "As these calendars are of use to the end of the year, so is the record of our past religious feelings to the end of life. Who would cast away his almanac when only the half of the year has expired? -- hdm0937, "Revival Miscellanies" by James Caughey
The coming in of the New Year is often preceded by a time at the close of the Old Year wherein earnest Christians review the past, and particularly the past twelve months of their lives.
JOHN S. INSKIP RECORDED HIS CONSECRATION
According to Edward Gibbon in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," the oath of service and fidelity to the emperor was annually renewed by the troops on the first of January. Below, we read of the fidelity of John S. Inskip to the King of kings:
"Monday Jan. 1, 1866. -- Upon returning from meeting, I feel that before retiring to rest I must record my consecration. I am devoutly thankful to God for His many mercies during the year that has passed away. I praise Him that He has enabled me to continue in the way of faith. If spared, I intend to live nearer to Jesus. Afresh I dedicate myself to the service of God. I give to Him my little all, and solemnly declare that I am and will be forever the Lord's. All my faculties and powers -- my life, influence, substance, and reputation, I renewedly devote to God, and declare that henceforth I will love and glorify Him forever. I will labor to promote His glory, and trust in Him for grace to guide, comfort, and support me. I again, and, if possible, in a fuller sense than ever, consecrate to Him all I have and am. My wife, home, and all, I give to Thee, O Lord, to be Thine. In testimony of which I hereunto affix my hand and seal, on this the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. -- hdm0131, "Life Of Rev. John S. Inskip" by William McDonald and John E. Searles
BLJ: How is your oath of service?
A TITHING FARMER WAS PROTECTED FROM POTATO BUGS
The following story was once related to George Douglas Watson, after the farmer's pastor said to him: "Tell Brother Watson about these potatoes, great big luscious potatoes of which we were partaking." The farmer said:
"Well, I got saved about eight years ago and began to tithe all my crops. Last year, at the beginning of the year, the potato bugs were terrible in our community. I prayed about it and said, Now, Father, Thou knowest I am Thine entirely. All I have is Thine, wife, children, horses, cattle and potatoes. Now, rebuke the bugs; take care of my crop.
"The farm adjoining mine on one side was literally devoured. The man expected one hundred bushels of potatoes and had only three bushels. The man on the other side had only five bushels. My place was right in between these two farms, which were devoured by potato bugs and I did not see a bug in my patch. We had potatoes in abundance and peddled around loads of God's potatoes to poor folks, widows and preachers. I put God to a test and He has proved to me He will rebuke the potato bugs." -- hdm0561, "How To Attract Prosperity" by John Marvin Hames
HE WAS SAVED AFTER THE DANCE
Paul Brodbeck relates the following story:
In the spring of 1837 we moved to Portsmouth, Ohio. I commenced going to the Methodist church with my wife, and gradually became attached to their doctrine and modes of worship; but at the same time I was very fond of the ball-room and the dance.
On the evening of the 31st of December, 1837, we had a great ball in town, and at the same time the Methodists held a watch-night meeting. After spending the forepart of the night at the ball-room, dancing, suddenly something seemed to say to me, "The Methodists hold a watch-night, and you must go and see what they are doing." Accordingly I left the ball-room about nine o'clock, and went to the church and heard a sermon by Rev. Henry Turner, then preacher in charge of Bigelow Chapel. I listened with great attention, but could not hear any thing that -- as I then thought -- suited my case. At the close of the sermon the minister descended from the pulpit, came into the altar, and invited all seekers of religion to come forward and kneel around the altar for the prayers of the Church, and seek the salvation of their souls.
While some were going forward for prayer and some were joining the Church, my conscience told me, "You must go, for you are a great sinner, or you will be eternally lost." Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, but yielded to the convictions of the moment, went forward, joined the Church, and threw myself down at the altar, and prayed and wrestled like Jacob of old, till nearly twelve o'clock at night, when, by the grace of God, I was enabled to shout "glory," having obtained redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of my sins. My wife all this time thought I was at the ball-room; and when I came home and told her what the Lord had done for me, she also shouted to God for his great mercy. -- hdm2028, "Experience Of German Methodist Preachers" by Adam Miller
Happy New Year!!!
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