Holiness Must Be Preached Part 6

155. Did Mr. Wesley organize special societies and meetings for the promotion of holiness, and attend them himself?

He did. This is stated distinctly and repeatedly in his journals. He alludes to their organization, to his attendance, and to their results in scores of instances. In many places he organized these societies himself; he called them the "Select Society," or "Select Band." He attended them in numerous places, and gives items concerning them in a multitude of cases. Declarations like the following are common in his journal "I met the Select Band." "Afterward I met the Select Society." " I joined again the Select Society." "I met at noon, as usual, those who believe they are saved from all sin." "Met Select Society and talked with twelve of them."

As to the origin of these Select Societies, see Works, vol. v. pp. 184, 185.

Dr. Stevens, in his Church History, vol. ii. p. 458, says: "Mr. Wesley established meetings for penitents and backsliders, and select societies for persons who were especially interested in the subject of Christian perfection." Mr. Tyreman says: "The select societies were taken from the bands, and were composed of those who seemed to walk in the light of God's countenance. Tyreman. vol. i. p. 444.

156. Is there to some extent a spirit of opposition in the Methodist Church to the doctrine, experience, and profession of sanctification?

The doctrine, as an item of Methodist theology, is generally received. But it is quite generally believed by those who have obtained the grace, and who confess it, and endeavor to advocate and vindicate it, that there is more opposition in the church to it than many are willing to allow. In so far as any man has the remains of indwelling sin in him, he has opposition to holiness within him. We heard a minister say not long since that "he found something in himself that kicks against holiness." We did not doubt it, carnal nature always "kicks against holiness." When men are opposed to holiness it is because holiness is opposed to them. This is the philosophy of the fact that the presentation of holiness provokes latent repugnance to the subject in the regenerate.

The same was true in Mr. Wesley's day; some of his preachers and members would not receive the doctrine, and he was often at his wit's end in keeping them from dropping it altogether.

We can not avoid the conviction that in our own loved communion there are some, in both the ministry and laity, who discard Mr. Wesley's views altogether. Many who profess to believe the doctrine, and who neglect to seek it, will oppose and reject it when its claims are urged and pressed home upon them. As long as it is left in the standards, in our book-cases, or as long as it is only preached as an item of the Methodist creed, in an indefinite and general aspect, it meets with but little opposition. But when it is urged home upon believers as a present duty and privilege to be sought now and not to be neglected, -- in many of our churches it is met with stern opposition in both the ministry and membership.

Dr. H. Bannister says: "Christian holiness, though required of all, is the most opposed of all things. Sad to say, it is opposed by good men. It always was so." --Advocate of Holiness, 1875.

The doctrine of regeneration may be so presented as not to lead one sinner a year to seek it, and so as never to trouble sinners concerning it. The doctrine of holiness may be so presented as to stir up no opposition against it on the one hand, nor lead any believers to seek it on the other.

There is too much foundation even in our day for the following from Dr. A. Clarke: "But most who call themselves Christians hate the doctrine of holiness never hear it inculcated without pain; and the principal part of their studies, and those of their pastors, is to find out with how little holiness they can rationally expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven." -- Theology, p. 203.

Holiness Must Be Preached Part 4

153. Is it wise to use the phrase "second blessing"?

We can see no objection to its use, nor any great demand for its use. It has been in use among Methodists for over a hundred years, as Mr. Wesley and the early Methodists frequently used it. Mr. Wesley writes thus: "It is exceedingly certain that God did give you the second blessing, properly so called." ... "One found peace, and one found the second blessing." -- Vol. vii. p. 45.

Charles Wesley put it into his hymns, and without caviling over it, millions have sung for a century:

"Give us. Lord, this second rest."

Speak the second time, be clean."

Let me gain that second rest."

Even the calvinistic Augustus Toplady wrote:

"Let the water and the blood,

From thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of in the double cure,

Save from wrath, and make me pure."

Sin is of two kinds, wrong acts, and wrong states, as a "transgression of law," and as a defilement or "unrighteousness." Salvation has a double or twofold aspect: pardon and purity, justification and sanctification. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin."

Pardon applies to guilty actions, and cleansing to polluted states. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Pardon, as we see in this scripture precedes the cleansing. The two blessings are presented in the declaration: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." It is also set forth in the great prophetic declaration: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin, and for uncleanness." This twofold blessing runs all through the scriptures, and is taught by precept, promise, and history. Ancient Israel typified them in crossing the Red Sea, and the Jordan; in leaving Egypt, and in entering Canaan.

Rev. B. W. Gorham says: "The attainment of heart purity is, and must be held to be, a distinct epoch in the Christian life. It is the point up to which all grace received performs the office of saving, and beyond which it performs the office of endowing." -- Gods Method with Man, p. 248.

St. Paul asserts in Rom. xv. 29, his possession of "the fullness of the blessing;" which must mean more than simply the blessing," just as "entire sanctification" means more than "sanctification," "perfect love " more than "love," "full assurance of faith" more than "faith," and full salvation, more than salvation.

The apostle also teaches this "second grace" in 2 Cor. i. 15 "And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before that you might have a second benefit," (margin, "second grace.") The original word, Barin, here translated "benefit" is translated "grace" one hundred and thirty-one times in the New Testament, and is never rendered "benefit," only in this single instance, and then is corrected by inserting "grace" in the margin. Here the inspired apostle uses the very form of expression used by teachers of distinctive holiness, and which is so distasteful to some people. McKnight translates it "That ye might have a second gift of the Spirit as soon as possible." AMEN!

To those who make sarcastic flings at the use of this term to express perfect love, we commend the following from the address of Rev. Dr. Pope at the British Conference:

"I have sometimes very delicately scrupled at this, that, and the other expression, and I have wondered whether it is right to speak of a 'second blessing;' and I have taken a text in which our Saviour takes a blind man and partially restores him his sight, and then, holding the man up before us for a little while, that we may study his state, which is a great advance upon what it was, that we may watch him in this state of struggle between sin and the flesh. He touches him again and he see every man clearly. In the face of that, text, and in the face of the experience of multitudes of our fathers, in the face of the testimonies of multitudes now living, and in the face of the deep instinct, the hope and desire of my own unworthy heart. I will never again write against the phraseology referred to."

Holiness Must Be Preached Part 3

151. Is the doctrine and experience of holiness the great peculiarity of Methodism?

It was strikingly so in early Methodism, and is claimed to be so now by our leading writers.

1. Mr. Wesley said: "It is the grand depositum which God has given to the people called Methodists and chiefly to propagate this, it appears, God raised them up." ..... "We believe that God's design in raising up the preachers called Methodist in America was to reform the continent, and spread scriptural holiness over these lands." -- Methodist Discipline.

2. Dr. J. V. Watson says: "Holiness! it is the ark of the Lord among our doctrinal ideas. ... It is the very essence of our spiritual life, the vital artery of our whole system. It is the central sun around which the satellites all revolve in harmony, rejoicing in its broad, warm, genial, life-imparting smile. O for holiness individually in the membership! O for a holy ministry! Together they make an omnipotent church." -- Helps to Revivals, p. 222.

3. Dr. George Peck says, in his able and standard work on Christian Perfection: "The doctrine of entire sanctification, as a distinct work wrought in the soul by the Holy Ghost, is the great distinguishing doctrine of Methodism. This given up, and we have little left which we do not hold in common with other evangelical denominations." -- Christian Perfection, p. 363).

4. Rev. William Arthur, of the English Wesleyan Church, said in a London address recently: "Methodism was not in its original life more marked by seeking justification by faith, than by seeking sanctification by faith."... "On us Methodists the past and the present join to lay an obligation even greater than that which rests on all our beloved brethren of other branches of the living vine, in regard to the doctrine and practice of holiness."

152. Did the early Methodist preachers in the country make holiness a prominent item in their ministry?

They did, and preached it clearly and powerfully all through the land; such men as Bishop Asbury, Bishop McKendree, Bishop George, Bishop Hedding, Bishop Whatcoat, Jesse Lee, George Pickering, Billy Hibbard, Freeborn Garrettson, Benjamin Abbott, and hundreds of others proclaimed this blessed doctrine. Dr. Olin says, "Preaching holiness was a peculiarity of early Methodism."

Dr. Bangs says, in his History of the Methodist Episcopal Church: "The doctrine more especially urged upon believers [in early Methodism] was that of sanctification or holiness of heart and life, and this was pressed upon them as their present privilege, depending for its accomplishment now on the faithfulness of God, who had promised to do it. It was this baptism of the Holy Ghost which fired and filled the hearts of God's ministers at that time."

Rev. Asa Kent, of the New England Conference, said in the Guide thirty years ago "I think the preachers fifty or sixty years ago (that is, eighty years ago), were generally more particular in explaining the doctrine of holiness of heart, and more earnestly urged the necessity of going on unto perfection, than is the case among us at the present time."

First Bible Study of the Quarter: Under the Shadow of the Almighty

 Today’s lesson comes from Psalm 91: 1-11. The book of Psalms was originally the hymn book of the Hebrew nation. This book is among the best loved and most read portions of Scripture. These songs were composed from the time of Moses to the days after the exile, and are poetic expressions of the spiritual life of the believer. The Book contains five collections of psalms compiled at different periods in Israel’s history. The five sections are as follows:

1. Book 1: Psalms 1-41 Compiled at the time of David; contains mostly Davidic psalms;

2. book 2: Psalms 42-72 Compiled mostly in the era of Solomon; contains Psalms by David and the Sons of Korah;

3. Book 3: Psalms 73-89 Probably collected during exile; contains chiefly Asaph’s psalms;

4. Book 4: Psalms 90-106 Probably collected during the exile; contains mostly anonymous psalms; and

5. Book 5: Psalms 107-150 Following the return from Exile in the time of Ezra, contains mostly anonymous psalms.

The writer of Psalm 91 expresses his confidence in God’s protective care. God will shield and protect His trusting child from all that will spiritually harm him. God has promised to deliver, exalt, answer prayer, honor and grant long life. Some believe this Psalm was written by Moses, others ascribe it to David. This Psalm reminds us of Paul’s words, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

The first section is: “Confidence Expressed.” Vv. 1, 2 There is a basic desire of the human heart for security and safety. We lock our homes at night, lock our automobiles when we leave them, and in general try to avoid dangerous situations. However, all our actions can not ultimately protect us. There is only One that can protect us, and that is God "most High," the El Elyon. He is the Supreme, Sovereign God, higher than all other beings, the Transcendent Ruler of Creation. He is the "the Almighty," El Shaddai. the All Sufficient One. He tells us to "abide under" His shadow. To "abide" is to take up lodging, to live in close fellowship and harmony with God. Verse 2 states, "I will say of the LORD," which could be translated, "I will say to the LORD." The psalmist is making a declaration, a testimony, of a settled purpose. The LORD is everything you need to be secure and happy. It is settled issue. With all the uncertainty in our world today, there is comfort in knowing that He is our Security and Protection. It is in Him that we can safely place our trust.

The second section is: Deliverance Assured." vv. 3-8 In these verses the psalmist commends God to the people, assuring them that God will be sufficient for any perils that they may face. "He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler." This speaks to any trap that Satan may set for you. Just like a trap for a bird with bait could catch the bird by surprise, Satan may try and do the same to us. However, God will deliver us from the unsuspected trap. We will be delivered from the "noisome pestilence" which may refer to a destructive plague that brings sickness and death. We are in a world filled with spiritual corruption, but if we "dwell in he secret place," the contamination of the world will have no effect upon us. 

Next, the psalmist uses the figure of a bird protecting its young by gathering them under its wings. In the same way, we really can't protect ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We need the active care of God. His "truth" (faithfulness) is our "shield and buckler." As we stay close to Him, keeping the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:10), we will be surrounded by protection. Verses 5 and 6 speak concerning the promise of safety  to us when we abide under the shadow of the almighty. "The terror by night" and "the pestilence that walketh in darkness" concerns the things that occur in the night time. We need not dread the things in the night as God is with us then also. There are two things that occur in the day: "the arrow that flieth by day," and "the destruction that wasteth at noonday." God is Sovereign of both the day and the night. Nothing comes to us that does not first pass by the throne of heaven. That is a source of great comfort. What does occur to us will be for our own good. (Romans 8:28) 

Those under the shadow of the Almighty will not be affected though "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand." Regardless of the heresies around us, or the cold backslidden preachers and churches, and those that have compromised with the world, we will be safe and secure. We shall renew our strength and not be afraid. (Isaiah 40: 31) Ultimately, we shall behold "the goodness and severity of God."

The third section is "Protection Promised." vv. 9-11 Verse 9 explains the basis of the protection: because you have made the Lord your "habitation." "Habitation" means that we are at home with the Lord. We commune with Him, delight in Him, depend on Him and abide in Him. As a result, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh (near) thy dwelling." If you are living with God, how could any evil come near your house? "Plague" has the sense of divine displeasure. If we are abiding in Him, there would be no evidence of divine displeasure. The plague which slew the first born of Egypt did not harm the Israelites who in obedience were under the cover of the lamb's blood. In the same way, if you are under the blood of Christ, no evil or plague of divine displeasure will get to you. You will be protected. The last verse speaks of angels keeping you in all your ways. We know from several Scriptures, e.g., Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 34:7, that angels are about us to protect us. As we walk each day, we have unseen companions who are preserving us from danger. That is a comforting thought as we live in an evil world that seems to get more profane every day. 

The Golden Text is: "In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." (Psalm 57:1) There is a place of protection in this world. It is for those that abide in Christ. As we make our lives with Him, from the time we arise until the time we enter sleep, we will be safe from harm. As the bird protects its babies, so will God protect His own. The safest place to live is under His protecting wings. Plus, the angels are there to keep us.

My summary points:

1. As we trust the Lord, we will abide with Him.

2. When we abide with Him, we are protected from evil.

3. God will send His angels to help us.

Next week: "Harden Not Your Heart." Psalm 95: 1-11

Contact us if you would like the free study material. Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.

Holiness Must Be Preached Part 2

149. Did Mr.Wesley preach often upon the subject of holiness?

We think he did, and for the following reasons:

1. Mr. Wesley was a consistent man, and it can not be supposed that he would in conference, in private, and by letter, urge and press his preachers to preach constantly, strongly, and explicitly on the subject, while he himself did not set them an example to be followed.

2. Mr. Wesley says, in his Plain Account, p. 88: "If I were convinced that none in England had attained what has been so clearly and strongly preached by such a number of preachers, in so many places, and for so long a time, I should be clearly convinced that we had all mistaken the meaning of those Scriptures."

3. In the journals of Dr. Adam Clarke, Bramwell, Carvosso, Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers, and Lady Maxwell, where a great number of Mr. Wesley's Sermons and texts are noticed, you will find a large proportion of them are on the subject of full salvation or perfection. More than one half of the hymns composed by Mr. Wesley were upon the subject of holiness.

The fact that but few of his published sermons are devoted specifically to the subject of Christian perfection does not argue against his preaching much upon it. The sermons which he published were designed to present a general survey of Christian theology. There are more of them, however, devoted specifically to the subject of holiness than to any other one topic.

Let it be remembered that we have but about one hundred and forty of his sermons; while he preached over seven hundred times a year during his ministry, and in his lifetime over forty-two thousand sermons.

150. Is there not a serious lack on the part of the ministry in preaching on this subject?

1. The special work of the Methodist ministry, is "to spread scriptural holiness over these lands." We are compelled to believe there is much less prominence given to this subject by our ministers than there should be. There is a serious neglect among us in not adhering to the matured advice of our great founder under God. "Therefore all our preachers should make a point of preaching perfection, to believers CONSTANTLY, STRONGLY, and EXPLICITLY; and ALL believers should mind this one thing, and continually agonize for it." This direction was given by Mr. Wesley in his mature years, and after an experience in the gospel ministry unequaled since the days of the apostles.

2. Bishop Peck says: "Alas! the truth can not be denied. The great privilege and duty of present salvation from all sin is omitted in so large a number of sermons as to leave many in doubt whether there be any such gospel, and grievously to discourage and mislead those whose spirits pant for full redemption." -- Central Idea, p. 113.

How true in many places, at this day, the declaration of Mr. Wesley at one period of his ministry: "I find almost all our preachers, in every circuit, have done with Christian perfection. They say they believe it; but they never preach it, or not once in a quarter."

Holiness Must Be Preached Part 1

BLJ: I would stay away from a preacher who doesn't preach holiness. Something is very wrong.

HOLINESS MUST BE PREACHED

148. Should the doctrine, experience, and practice of Christian Holiness be preached frequently?

This subject should receive (as it demands) great prominence in all our ministerial labors. While it should not be the only topic in our pulpit ministrations, it should be a prominent one. The apostle Paul states the great object of an established Christian ministry to be "for the perfecting of the saints." In regard to his own labors, he says: "We warn every man, and teach every man, ... that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." The minister of Christ should give the doctrine and practice of holiness the same prominence the Bible gives it.

1. Bishop Foster says: "It breathes in the prophecy, thunders in the law, murmurs in the narrative, whispers in the promises, supplicates in the prayers, sparkles in the poetry, resounds in the songs, speaks in the types, glows in the imagery, voices in the language, and burns in the spirit of the whole scheme, from the alpha to the omega, from its beginning to its end. Holiness holiness needed, holiness required, holiness offered, holiness attainable, holiness a present duty, a present privilege, a present enjoyment -- is the progress and completeness of its wondrous theme!" -- Christian Purity, p. 80.

2. The Discipline, on the matter and manner of preaching, is very explicit. It reads: "Let us strongly and closely insist upon inward and outward holiness in all its branches."

This insisting upon "inward and outward holiness in all its branches" is to be constant -- "TO DO THIS, IN SOME MEASURE, IN EVERY SERMON." -- Dis., p. 86.

3. Rev. John Wesley says: "Therefore let all our preachers make a point to preach of perfection to believers constantly, strongly explicitly." ... "I doubt not we are not explicit enough in speaking on full sanctification, either in public or private." Vol. vi. p. 529.

"I am afraid Christian perfection will be forgotten. Encourage Richard Blackwell and Mr. Colley to speak plainly. A general faintness in this respect has fallen on the whole kingdom. Sometimes I seem almost weary of striving against the stream of both preacher and people."

"I hope he is not ashamed to preach full salvation, receivable now, by faith. This is the word which God will always bless, and which the devil peculiarly hates therefore, he is constantly stirring up both his own children and the weak children of God, against it." -- Letter to Mrs. Bennis, 1771.

"I wish, when opportunity serves, yon would encourage him (Isaac Brown) 1. To preach Christian perfection constantly, strongly, and explicitly. 2. Explicitly to assert and prove that it may be received now: and 3. (which indeed is implied therein) That it is to be received by simple faith." -- Letter to Miss. Ritchie, 1782.

4. Dr. Adam Clarke says: "If the Methodists give up preaching entire sanctification they will soon lose their glory."....."This fitness, then, to appear before God, and thorough preparation for eternal glory, is what I plead for, pray for, and heartily recommend to all true believers, under the name of Christian perfection."

"Let all those who retain the apostolic doctrine, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin in this life, press every believer to go on to perfection, and expect to be saved, while here below, into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." Theology, p. 201.

5. Bishop Peck says: "The duty of ministers is plain: to set the whole work of grace upon the heart, constantly and plainly, before the people ... to hold out, with the clearness of light, to the Israel of God, everywhere, the glorious privilege of perfect love, and urge it; not as all the gospel, but the grand result sought in the gospel; not merely as a privilege and a probability, but as a duty, as an attainment, which we are in danger of missing, and which is indispensable to our ultimate preservation in the favor of God, and our introduction into heaven?" -- Central Idea, p. 66.

6. Bishop Foster says: "Let the pulpit experience and teach this glorious privilege as it deserves to be taught, and great evil will be obviated." -- Christian Purity, p. 277.

7. Dr. Stephen Olin writes: "I trust the day is near when our church will bear a clearer testimony on this subject. It was the peculiarity of early Methodism. ... I do not for a moment allow myself to doubt that the great plan of redemption provides for a perfect work here below. I can take no view of the gospel which tolerates lower views. I can not PREACH the gospel in any other light."

8. Bishop Asbury wrote to the Rev. Henry Smith, and closed his letter as follows: "Night comes on, and I will close with saying, 'Preach sanctification, directly and indirectly, in every sermon.' " He wrote to another, "O purity! O Christian perfection! O sanctification! It is heaven below to feel all sin removed. Preach it, whether they will hear or forbear. PREACH IT."

9. Bishop McKendree wrote the following to the eloquent Summerfield: "But superior to all these, I trust you will ever keep in view, in all your ministrations, the great design which we believe God intended to accomplish in the world, in making us a 'people that were not a people,' -- I mean the knowledge, not only of a free and a present, but also a full salvation in other words, a salvation from all sin unto all holiness."

"INSIST MUCH ON THIS; build up the churches herein, and proclaim aloud, that 'without holiness no man shall see the Lord;' under the guidance of the Spirit of holiness, this doctrine will be acknowledged of God: 'signs will follow them that believe' and press after this uttermost salvation, and our people will bear the mark of their high calling -- become a holy nation, a peculiar people."

10. "The only really effective method of preaching it," says Dr. L. R. Dunn, "is from the standpoint of experience, and with the spirit of the gentle and loving Jesus. Methodist preachers, to be consistent, must preach it." -- Address at Holiness Conference.

11. The Rev. George Pickering, after fifty years in the ministry, in his semi-centennial sermon, exhorts brethren to "preach to the people the blessed doctrine of holiness;" adding, "This is the only thing that will hold the Methodist church together." When on his dying-bed, being visited by all the ministers of Boston, grasping the hand of the brother who was acting as spokesman for the whole, he exclaimed, "Tell -- oh, tell the brethren to preach Christ and him crucified, an all-able, all-powerful, all-willing, all-ready Saviour, a present Saviour, saving now. Preach, 'Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.' Oh, tell them to preach holiness. Holiness is the principal thing. Preach holiness, HOLINESS, HOLINESS! God help you to preach holiness." Thus ended the dying charge of that holy man, George Pickering, of the New England Conference. -- Stevens: "Eminent Dead," p. 328.

Brief Messages for Time Limited Readers Part 7

These brief messages were created by Rev. Duane Maxey, who I consider to be my main mentor after Rev. J. Herbert Norton.

Brief Messages For Time-Limited Readers 06

PEOPLE NEED THESE BREAKS

"Give ME a BREAK!" -- an expression that is sometimes heard today which often voices the the speaker's frustration or displeasure with something that has just been said or done.  Perhaps most of the time this expression is one that it had been best not to say.

However there ARE " BREAKS" which millions of people really DO need today.  I shall mention only 3 of them.  They are "SPIRITUAL BREAKS" which are important to our Eternal Welfare.  Interested?  Read on.

*     *     *

01 -- BREAK OFF -- YOUR SINS AND INIQUITIES!

"BREAK OFF THY SINS by righteousness, and THINE INIQUITIES by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity" (Daniel 4:27).

"By righteousness" a true penitent seeker of Christ's Salvation "BREAKS OFF" ALL SINS AND INIQUITIES instantly.  God does not permit piece-meal repentance of one or two sins now, a few more later, etc., until finally all sins are given up.  All sins must be "broken off" NOW! -- leaving none which continue to be committed, and with the intention and determination that not one sin shall ever be committed again throughout the remainder of one's life.

James 1:21 calls sin a "superfluity of naughtiness" -- if you please, like a wicked appendage attached to one's life that ought not to be there.  Suppose there was a truck about to pass through a narrow, one-way concrete tunnel which was 10 feet wide.  A sign warns the driver: -- "Maximum Width 10 Feet" -- but the driver had loaded across the front of the truck-bed a wooden closet-rod 1Ω inches thick and 14 feet long, extending 2 feet beyond the maximum width of that tunnel on each side.  It is packed in so tightly it cannot be removed, and isn't worth saving.  So, the driver presses down on the foot-feed, and when the the front end of that truck bed reaches the tunnel, 2 feet of the "excessive width" of that closet-rod on each side of the truck bed is instantly "broken off" -- and the driver keeps right on heading through the tunnel and down the road.

Even so, SIN IS A "SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS" too wide for the "Strait Gate" leading unto Life Eternal, and must be "broken off" to pass through!  In Righteousness, plow right on through the "Strait Gate"!  Let sin's superfluous attachment to your soul be instantly "broken off" as you go through!  HALLELUJAH!  Don't bother going back to pick it up and throw it out of the Highway to Heaven, for GOD HIMSELF shall have already taken every bit of that "superfluity of naughtiness" and cast it into the Sea of His Forgetfulness forever!  GLORY!

Sinner friend, even thus "BREAK OFF THY SINS AND INIQUITIES by righteousness, and it SHALL BE "a lengthening of thy tranquillity" -- a lengthening that NEVER ENDS throughout Eternity in Heaven! (Daniel 4:27).  I SAY HALLELUJAH!  Do it NOW!  You'll never regret it!

*     *     *

02 -- BREAK DOWN -- EVERY IDOL!

Before their carrying away into Babylon, ancient Israel repeatedly set up idols and worshipped THEM instead of our Living God.  2 Chronicles 34:7 tells how righteous king Josiah set forth to BREAK DOWN ISRAEL'S IDOLS and "when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem."

Today, every impenitent sinner is "idolatrous" -- worshipping something other than God -- and, whether that thing be shaped materially like the idols of old or not, it is, in fact, AN IDOL.  In order to receive God's "one and only Salvation" through Christ Jesus, He demands that we do as the songwriter wrote:

"Break down every idol,

Cast out every foe!"

We are told in the history of India, that Mahmoud -- who conquered a great portion of India hundreds of years ago destroyed all the idols in every town to which he came.  In time he laid siege to the great city of Guzurat.  Forcing for himself an entrance into the costliest shrine of the Brahmins, there rose before him the figure of a gigantic idol, fifteen feet high.  He instantly ordered it to be destroyed.  The Brahmins of the temple prostrated themselves at his feet, and said: "Great Mahmoud, spare our god, for the fortunes of this city depend upon him."

But Mahmoud, after a moment's pause, said he would rather be known as the breaker than the seller of idols, and struck the image with his battle-axe.  His soldiers followed, and in an instant the idol was broken to pieces.  It proved to be hollow, and had been used as a receptacle for thousands of precious gems, which, as the image was shattered, fell at the conqueror's feet.  From its shattered side came pearls and diamonds, showers of gold; more than all the proffered ransom, more than all a hundred fold."

Likewise, every idol which a penitent sinner has worshipped must be "broken down" but when this is done, all the riches of Christ and His Salvation pour forth into that one's soul!  And "OH, THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES IN CHRIST!"  BREAK DOWN EVERY IDOL, CAST OUT EVERY FOE, seeking sinner, and yours shall be the Eternal Riches of Christ, "WEALTH THAT CAN NEVER BE TOLD"!

*     *     *

03 -- BREAK UP -- YOUR FALLOW GROUND!

Twice, we find this command in God's Word:

First, it is found in Jeremiah 4:3 -- "For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, and sow not among thorns."

Dr. Adam Clarke commented thus upon "BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND" -- Fallow ground is either that which, having been once tilled, has lain long uncultivated . . . Ye have been long uncultivated in righteousness; let true repentance BREAK UP YOUR FRUITLESS AND HARDENED HEARTS; and when the seed of the Word of Life is sown in them, take heed that worldly cares and concerns do not arise, and, like thorns, choke the good seed."

Next, it is found in Hosea 10:12 -- "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: for it is time to seek the Lord, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU."

It is clear from these two Divine commands that spiritually "Fallow Ground" is a) like hardened, impenitent hearts which need to be broken open before the good seed of God's Word can be sown, and b) before God will "RAIN DOWN RIGHTEOUSNESS" to cause His Word to take root and grow in one's soul.

OH, the arid, parched, and dryness spiritually which is found in many professed Christian church services today!  The water found in them is nothing more than a Satanic mirage.

As a boy, I recall hearing Bob Nolan and the "Sons of the Pioneers" sing over the radio a song titled "Cool Water".  I take the song tells of a desert-dwelling prospector with his donkey or mule, Dan, trying to make it across the barren, desert waste, when they were both desperately thirsty:

"All day I faced the barren waste

Without the taste of water--

Cool water! Clear water, water.

Old Dan and I with throats burned dry

And souls that cry for water--

Cool water! Clear water, water.

Then, the old prospector sees what appears to be a stream of Cool Water flowing in the distance:

"Oh, Dan can't you see that big green tree

Where the waters runnin' free

And it's waiting there for you and me.

Cool water, Clear water, water!"

But, upon arriving at the spot where that Cool, Flowing Stream seemed to be, the old prospector discovers that it was nothing but a desert mirage! -- and says to Old Dan,

"Keep a movin' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan,

He's a devil not a man, and he spreads the burnin' sand

With water, Cool water, Clear water, water!"

Around this deceived and spiritually arid world today are millions who have never tasted "The Water of Life"!  In the "barren waste" of their congregations they have never found anything but a Satanic Mirage!  How many of them, I wonder, are even now DESPERATELY THIRSTY FOR THAT TRUE WATER OF LIFE!!?  Christian Intercessors: -- Pray that God will move upon them to "break up their fallow ground" so that He CAN, and WILL, RAIN DOWN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON THEIR DRY GROUND, cause His Word to take root in their souls, and His Spirit to QUENCH THEIR DESPERATE THIRST for the Water of Life!

ìI will pour water on him that is thirsty,

I will pour floods upon the dry ground;

Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;

While ye are seeking Me, I will be found.î

-- Lucy J. Meyer (1849-1922)