How long had I been here in this closet?
Days or just hours? Surely it seemed days since at my own request I had heard
my wife lock that closet door from the outside! What would she think about me
shutting myself away for so long? Had it really been days or just hours? Was I
really getting anywhere with God? Would God answer? Would God satisfy that
hunger of my soul or would I have to admit defeat again as so often I had done?
No! I'd stay right here on my knees until God answered, or I would die in the
attempt! Hadn't God's word said, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength, they shall mount up-up-UP-with wings-with wings as eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; they shall ---."
Had my wife opened the door? No, it was
still closed! But the light, where was the light coming from? It was then that
I began to realize that the light that was filling my prayer closet was God's
glory! It wasn't the closet door that had opened, but rather the door of heaven
instead!
The presence of God was so real and
powerful that I felt I would die right there on my knees. It seemed that if God
came any closer, I could not stand it! Yet I wanted it and was determined to
have it. Little wonder that Paul under like circumstance, "fell to the
earth". Acts 9:4. No wonder John, "fell at his feet as dead".
Rev. 1:17.
Was this the answer? Was God going to
speak to me? Would God at last, after these many years, satisfy my longing
heart? I seemed to lose consciousness of everything but the mighty presence of
God. I trembled, I tried to see Him and then was afraid that I would, for
suddenly I realized that should I see Him, I would die. Just His glorious
presence was enough!
Then like a whirlwind, I heard His voice.
It was God! He was speaking to me! This was the glorious answer that I had
sought so diligently and for which I had waited so long. Yes, this was what I
had been waiting for since my conversion at the age of twenty-three. Yes, this
was what my longing soul had cried for ever since God called me to the
ministry.
That call to the ministry had come with
such force and was so definite that nothing could ever make me doubt it. From
the time of my conversion God had made it so real to me even though my past
life had not been spent in such a way as to provide any preparation for this
work.
From the time of my conversion, I realized
my need of much study if ever I were to fulfill the call of God upon my life.
Therefore, I spent many hours reading the Bible, and seeking to understand its
message and meaning. To my simple untaught soul, God seemed to mean exactly
what he said -- and seemed to say it directly to me through His Word --
"As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. HEAL THE
SICK, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." Matt. 10:7. All this seemed included in a call to
the ministry, yet I DID NOT SEE IT BEING DONE! I was myself powerless to carry
out these commands of Christ. Yet I knew that it COULD BE DONE, for Christ
would not give a command which could not be carried out!
Before my conversion, I knew so little
about God and his word, that I could not even quote John 3:16, nor name the
four gospels. In the Methodist church where I was converted and of which I
became a member, I was not taught to expect to be baptized with the Holy Ghost
as the first disciples were on the day of Pentecost, nor to expect the signs
mentioned in Mark 16:17,18 to follow me as a believer in the Lord. I was taught
to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and was gloriously saved,
and set free from condemnation for sin. Then as I searched the Scriptures,
asking God to lead me to those readings from which I would receive the greatest
benefit, the Lord began to reveal to me the truths of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost, the signs following, the gifts of the spirit, and the supernatural
things of God.
It was not long until God led me into a
Pentecostal church, where I began to see in a small measure the blessings of
God, and a few of the manifestations of the Spirit. It was in these meetings
that I became convinced that I needed the Baptism with the Spirit, and there I
began to pray and earnestly seek God for that experience.
Thirty days after my conversion, I was
gloriously filled with the Holy Ghost, in an Assembly of God camp meeting in
Miami, Oklahoma, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
I had read, "Ye shall receive power
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8. I fully expected
that with the infilling of the Holy Ghost, I would immediately have power to
heal the sick, and to perform miracles. It did not take me long to realize that
more was required than the baptism with the Holy Ghost, in order to
consistently see these results. The baptism with the Spirit provides access to
this power, but the gifts of the Spirit provide the channels through which this
power operates. I began immediately to pray and seek the gifts of the Spirit. I
felt I must have power to heal the sick, for I knew that God never called
anyone to preach the Gospel without commissioning him also to heal the sick.
The power of the Holy Ghost may be readily
likened to the power of electricity. When one is filled with the Spirit, it is
as though he has had his house wired, and established connection with the
"power house". Many people use electricity for years just to provide
light! They never take advantage of the great possibilities that are available
through using the appliances which electricity will operate. The gifts of the
Spirit may be likened to the appliances. As new gifts are added more work can
be done, with greater ease. The power has not changed, but it is made more
effective. God never intended to STOP when he had filled his people with the
Spirit. This is just the beginning. "Covet earnestly the best gifts."
I Cor. 12:31. This, I found, is the path to greater accomplishment for God.
Two years after my conversion, I was
happily married, and began my ministry.
For more than a year, my wife and I
continued preaching this glorious gospel of salvation, the baptism with the
Spirit, the second coming of Christ, and DIVINE HEALING. In every revival
meeting, I always planned at least two nights in each week to be set aside for
preaching divine healing, and prayer for the sick. During this time, we saw a
large number of miraculous healings, for God honored the preaching of His word.
But I knew that God's plan included greater things for me, and I believed that
there would be a time in the future when they would be a reality in my life.
Many times, my wife and I would search the
scriptures together, becoming more convinced as we did so that God's promises
concerning the signs following, the gifts of the Spirit, healings, and miracles
were meant for us, today. It was also plain to see that we did not possess that
power in the fullness that God had promised. We knew there must be a scriptural
reason why we were so lacking in power. Since God cannot lie, the fault had to
be WITHIN OURSELVES!
It was while pastoring my first church, an
Assembly of God church in Colorado, that I definitely made up my mind that I
MUST hear from heaven, and know the reason that my ministry was not confirmed
by signs and wonders.
I felt sure that if I would fast and pray,
God would in some way speak to me, and reveal to me what stood between me and
the miracle-working power of God in my ministry. I was so hungry for the power
of God in my own life that I felt I could not stand in my pulpit, nor even
preach again, until I had heard from God, and told my wife that this was my
plan.
It was then that I had the greatest battle
of my life. Satan was determined that I should NOT fast and pray until God
answered. Many times he whipped me or tricked me out of that prayer closet.
Satan knew that if I ever actually contacted God, there would be much damage to
his kingdom, and he meant to do all in his power to hinder me from making that
contact.
Day after day, I went into the prayer
closet, determined to stay until God had spoke to me. Again and again, I came
out without the answer.
Again and again my wife would say to me,
"I thought you said this was the time you were going to stay until you got
the answer." Then she would smile in her own sweet way, remembering that
"the spirit indeed is willing, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK!"
Again and again I answered her,
"Honey, I really meant to pray it through this time, but -- !" It
seemed there was always a reason why I couldn't stay in that closet until the
answer came. I always justified myself by saying I would pray it through
tomorrow. Things would be more favorable then.
The Lord encouraged my heard by calling to
my attention how Daniel held on in fasting and prayer, and wrested the answer
from the hands of satan, although it took three weeks to do so. (See Daniel
10:1 and 12)
The next day found me on my knees in the
closet again. I had told my wife I would never come out until I heard from God.
I REALLY THOUGHT I MEANT IT.
But a few hours later, when I began to
smell the odor of food that my wife was preparing for herself and our small
son, I was soon out of the closet and in the kitchen, inquiring, "What
smells so delicious, dear?"
A few moments later, while I was at the
table, God spoke to my heart. I had only taken one bite of food, and I stopped.
God had spoken to me. I knew that until I wanted to hear from God MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, more than food, more than the gratification of the
flesh, GOD WOULD NEVER GIVE ME THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS IN MY HEART!
I arose quickly from the table, and said
to my wife, "Honey, I mean business with God this time! I'm going back
into that closet, and I want you to lock me inside. I am going to stay there
until I hear from God."
"Oh," she replied, "you'll
be knocking for me to open the door in an hour or so." She knew that so
many times I had said THIS was the time I would stay until I had the answer,
she was beginning to wonder if I really could subdue the flesh long enough to
defeat the devil. Nevertheless, I heard her lock the door from the outside.
Before she left, she said, "I'll let you out any time you knock."
I answered, "I'll not knock until I
have the answer that I have wanted so long." At last I had definitely made
up my mind to stay there till I heard from God, no matter what the cost!
Hour after hour, I battled with the devil
and the flesh in that closet! Many were the times I almost gave up. It seemed
to me that days were slipping by, and my progress was so slow! Many times I was
tempted to give it all up, and try to be satisfied without the answer -- to go
on just as I had been doing. But deep in my soul I knew I could never be
satisfied to do that. I had tried it, and found that it was not enough.
No! I would stay right here on my knees
until God answered, or I would die in the attempt!
Then the glory of God began to fill the
closet. I thought for a moment that my wife had opened the door, as the closet
door began to grow light. But my wife had not opened the door of the closet --
JESUS HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF HEAVEN, and the closet was flooded with light, the
light of the glory of God!
I do not know how long I had stayed in the
closet before this happened, but it doesn't matter. I do not care to know. I
only know I prayed UNTIL!
The presence of God was so real, so
wonderful, and so powerful that I felt I would die right there on my knees. It
seemed that if God came any closer, I could not stand it! Yet I wanted it, and
was determined to have it.
Was this my answer? Was God going to speak
to me? Would God, at last, after these many years, satisfy my longing heart?
How long had I been here? I didn't know! I seemed to lose consciousness of
everything but the mighty presence of God. I tried to see Him, and then was
afraid that I would, for suddenly I realized that should I seem Him, I would
die. (Exodus 33:20.) Just His glorious presence was enough!
If only He would speak to me now! If He
would just answer my one question, "Lord, why can't I heal the sick? Why
can't I work miracles in Your name? Why do signs not follow my ministry as they
did that of Peter, John and Paul?"
Then like a whirlwind, I heard His voice!
It was God! He was speaking to me! This was the glorious answer for which I had
waited so long!
In His presence I felt like one of the
small pebbles at the foot of the towering Rockies. I felt I was unworthy even
to hear His voice. But He wasn't speaking to me because I was worthy. He was
speaking to me because I was needy. Centuries ago, He had promised to supply
that need. This was the fulfilment of that promise.
It seemed that faster than any human could
possibly speak faster than I could follow mentally, God was talking to me. My
heart cried out, "Speak a little more slowly. I want to remember it
all!"
It seemed God was speaking to me so fast,
and of so many things I could never remember it all. Yet I knew I could never
forget! God was giving me a list of the things which stood between me and the power
of God. After each new requirement was added to the list in my mind, there
followed a brief explanation, or sermonette, explaining that requirement and
its importance.
Some of the things God spoke to me sounded
like scriptures. I knew some of them were, but those first three -- could they
be from the Bible?
If I had known there were so many things
to remember, I would have brought a pencil and paper! I hadn't expected that
God would speak in such a definite way, and give me such a long list. I had never
dreamed that I was falling so far short of the glory of God. I hadn't realized
there were so many things in my life that generated doubt and hindered my
faith.
While God continued to speak to me, I
began to feel in my pockets for a pencil. At last I located a short one, but
the lead was broken. Quickly I sharpened it with my teeth. I searched for a
piece of paper. I couldn't find any. Suddenly I remembered the cardboard box
filled with winter clothes which I was using for an altar. I would write on the
box.
Now I was ready!
I asked the Lord to please start all over
again at the beginning, and let me write the things down one at a time -- to
speak slowly enough so that I could get it all on paper.
Once more God started at the first, and
spoke to me one after another the many things He had already mentioned. As God
spoke to me, I wrote them down.
When the last requirement was written down
on the list, God spoke once again, and said, "This is the answer. When you
have placed on the altar of consecration and obedience the last thing on your
list, YE SHALL NOT ONLY HEAL THE SICK, BUT IN MY NAME SHALL YE CAST OUT DEVILS.
YE SHALL SEE MIGHTY MIRACLES AS IN MY NAME YE PREACH THE WORD, FOR BEHOLD, I
GIVE YOU POWER OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY."
God revealed to me at the same time that
the things that were hindrances to my ministry, and had prevented God from
working with me, confirming the Word with signs following, were the very same
things which were hindering so many thousands of others.
Now it began to grow darker in the closet.
I felt His mighty power begin to lift. For a few more moments, His presence
lingered, and then I was alone.
Alone, yet not alone.
I trembled under the mighty lingering
presence of God. I fumbled at the bottom of the cardboard box on which I had
been writing. In the dark, I tore the part on which I had written from the box.
In my hand I held the list. At last, here was the price I must pay for the
power of God in my life and ministry. THE PRICE TAG FOR THE MIRACLE-WORKING
POWER OF GOD!
Frantically, I pounded on the locked door.
Again and again I pounded. At last, I heard my wife coming. She opened the
door. The moment she saw me, she knew I had beem with God. Her first words
were, "You've got the answer!"
"Yes, honey. God has paid me a visit
from heaven, and here is the answer."
In my hand was the old brown piece of
cardboard, with the answer that had cost so many hours of fasting and prayer
and waiting, and -- yes -- believing!
My wife and I sat down at the table with
the list before us, and as I told her the story, we both wept, as together we
went down the list.
There were thirteen items on the list when
I came out of the closet, but I erased the last two before showing the list to
my wife, because those two were so personal that even my wife shall never know
what they were. She has never asked, for she realizes that these things MUST
remain between me and God.
The remaining eleven things make up the
contents of this book. There is one entire chapter devoted to each of these
eleven requirements. If you, too, have longed for the manifestation of the
mighty power of God in your own life and ministry, I trust that these thoughts
shall inspire you, and that God may speak to you, as he did me, and lead you on
to new victory and greater usefulness because of this book.
Since God spoke to me that day in the
closet, many pages have been torn from the calendar. In fact, many calendars
have been replaced by new ones. As the time has passed, one by one, I have
marked the requirements from my list. The list grew smaller and smaller, as I
shouted the victory over satan, and marked off one after another!
Finally, I was down to the last two. Satan
said to me, "You've marked off eleven items, but here are two you'll never
mark off. I've got you whipped."
But by the grace of God, I told the devil
he was a liar. If God said I could mark them all off, He would help me to do
it!
Yet, it seemed I would never be able to
mark off the last two.
Never will I forget the day I looked over
my list, and found, praise God, there was only one thing left! If I could mark
that off, I could claim the promise that God had made to me.
I had to claim that promise! Millions were
sick and afflicted, beyond the help of medical science. Some one MUST bring
deliverance to them. God had called me to take deliverance to the people. GOD
HAS CALLED EVERY MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL TO DO THE SAME! (Ezek. 34:1-4.)
Many have been the times when God has
poured out His Spirit in my meetings in a measure, as I have traveled across
the states. However, I knew that when I marked the last item from my list, I
would see such miracles as I had never seen before. In the meantime, I would
patiently strive toward victory, trusting God to help me until victory came.
Trusting that when that victory was mine, God would be glorified, and others,
too, would be encouraged to seek God for his power.
At this writing, I am conducting a
"BACK TO GOD HEALING REVIVAL" at Calvary Temple in Oakland,
California. Many say it is the greatest REVIVAL in the history of Oakland.
Hundreds say that they have never witnessed such a dynamic moving of the power
of God. The meeting is now in its fifth great week. From the growing interest
and increasing attendance the meeting could, no doubt, continue indefinitely.
Night after night, the waves of Divine
Glory so sweep over the congregation that many testify of being healed while
sitting in their seats. Again and again as we have felt the mighty power of God
settling over the meeting, people have risen to their feet to testify of
instant healings, some of which are visibly miraculous, such as outward tumors
disappearing, the crippled made whole.
I have felt goiters disappear at the touch
of my hand in Jesus' name!
The shouts of victory are many as the
blind see. One woman testified, "It was like coming out of the dark into
the sunlight."
We prayed for a woman with throat trouble.
After a few moments, she was seen hurrying to the ladies rest room. After
returning to the auditorium, she testified that after prayer, something came
loose out of her throat and came up into her mouth. she had hurried to the rest
room to dispose of it. It was some kind of foreign growth (doubtless cancer) --
whitish orange in color.
Ruptures as large as a person's fist have
disappeared overnight. Cancer, deafness, tumors, goiters, sugar diabetes, every
known disease and many unknown, disappear, as in the name of Jesus, we lay
hands upon the sick. Genuine healings are proven in many cases by doctors'
statements and x-rays.
We stand in holy awe, and marvel at the
miracle working power of God, as it has moved night after night from the very
beginning of this meeting. Hundreds have been delivered from the power of the
enemy -- saved, healed, or filled with the Spirit.
In this meeting, it has been impossible to
have what is generally termed a "healing line". At least ninety
percent of those upon whom we have laid hands are prostrated under the mighty
power of God immediately. Some dance a few steps, or weave drunkenly under the
power of the Spirit before falling. (See Jer. 23:9). Under these circumstances,
it is impossible to have people march on after prayer.
This is the mighty power of God moving
upon the people. It is the same power that caused John to "fall at his
feet as dead". (Rev. 1:17.)
Many say that the most outstanding thing
about this meeting is that such a large percentage of the sick are receiving
such miraculous deliverance. It would be a conservative estimate to say that at
least ninety percent, or even more of those prayed for have been marvelously
healed.
Tonight's service was designated
"Holy Ghost Night." Calvary Temple was packed to the doors, with
people sitting on the altar benches. (This is being written at 2:00 am after a
great Holy Ghost service.) Eternity alone will reveal the number of people who
were filled or refilled with the Spirit. We had announced that in this service,
hands would be laid upon seekers for the infilling of the Spirit, according to
Acts 8:17. After the sermon, all who had not already been filled during the
service came down the outside aisle in a line. With only a few exceptions,
everyone we touched in the name of Jesus fell prostrate. What an unusual sight
to stand on the platform afterwards, and look upon the many "slain of the
Lord" in every available altar space, and even down the aisles! Sweeter
yet, the sound of the heavenly music of voices raised in united praise to God,
as the Spirit filled obedient believers, and they began to speak in new tongues
and magnify God. (Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46)
I do not claim to possess a single gift of
the Spirit, nor to have power to impart any gift to others, yet all the gifts
of the Spirit are in operation, night after night.
Many are exercising the gifts of the
Spirit WITHOUT IMPOSITION OF HANDS OR PROPHETIC UTTERANCE!
God is confirming His Word WITH SIGNS
FOLLOWING!
Why have I seen such a change in the
results of my ministry? You ask WHY? Have you not guessed?
THE LAST ITEM OF THE LIST GOD GAVE TO ME
in the closet of prayer HAS BEEN MARKED OFF THE LIST AT LAST! Hallelujah! Many
times, I almost gave up hope of ever being able to mark that last one off, but
at last it is gone! By God's grace, GONE FOREVER!
With the marking off of the last
requirement on my list, has come the fulfillment of God's promise. THE SICK ARE
HEALED. DEVILS ARE CAST OUT. MIGHTY MIRACLES ARE SEEN IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AS
HIS WORD IS PREACHED!
The chapters which follow give the
requirements which God gave to me, and are dedicated to all those who are
hungry for the MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD.
What strange words! Why should God speak
thus to me?
Somehow, I knew that I had read those
words somewhere, but where? (I later discovered that this was quoted from the
Bible -- Matt. 10:24.) But this was the voice of God, speaking directly to ME.
This was the same voice which had spoken to Phillip (Acts 8:30), saying,
"Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." It was the voice which
Peter had heard (Acts 10:15), saying, "What God hath cleansed that call
not thou common." The voice which God's Word tells us may still be heard
today. "As the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice harden
not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the
wilderness." Heb. 3:7,8. Now I was hearing the voice of God. All others
who might share in the message of these words were for the moment blotted out
of my thinking. I had asked God for a solution to my problem, and God was
giving the answer.
First of all, I must know that NEVER could
there be any possibility of being above my Master, Jesus.
You say, "What is so strange about
that? Surely no one would expect to be above HIM!
But wait! You may find that you too, just
as I had, have been seeking and expecting that very thing. I had read His
promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
John 14:12. Although it seemed hardly reasonable that anyone could really do a
greater miracle than those done by Jesus, yet this seemed to be what the
scripture said. Many times I had wondered about the meaning of this scripture.
The thought that the disciple could do a greater miracle than his Lord seemed
to be a direct contradiction of the spirit of the scripture. Now I could see
that this promise, like all God's promises, is true when rightly understood.
"Greater works shall he do," in the sense that Jesus was only one,
limited by time and transportation difficulties to a small area and a few
people. Those who believe on Him are many. They are scattered over the face of
the entire earth. Many of His modern disciples have circled the globe,
preaching to thousands at one time by means of electrical amplification
systems, and to vast unseen audiences through radio and television, bringing
deliverance to greater multitudes than did Jesus. Where Jesus reached hundreds,
His followers are reaching thousands. The works of power which are done today
are THE SAME WORKS which He did -- greater in quantity, but not in quality.
EVERY BELIEVER has promised to him the same power which Jesus used -- miracles
after the same pattern which they saw their Master do, first in the flesh and
later through the written record found in the four gospels. What mighty things
would have been accomplished had all the followers of Jesus made use of this
power!
The words quoted at the beginning of this
chapter were part of the message of Christ to twelve believers who were sent
out to do the very things which I knew God had called me to do -- "Heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." Matt. 10:8. With these wonderful promises of power
were included warnings of persecution -- "Ye shall be brought before
governors and kings for my sake." Verse 18. "Brother shall deliver up
brother to death, and the father the chil../../../.. and the children shall rise up against
their parents, and cause them to be put to death." Verse 21. No
deliverance from this persecution was promised to the followers of Christ,
although they were to have power to do the things which He did. CHRIST HIMSELF
WAS PERSECUTED. If His disciples could do the works He did, and in addition be
delivered from persecution, then indeed would the disciple be above his master.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Tim. 3:12.
Persecution is one of the universal results
of manifested power.
Jesus was not persecuted while He remained
in the carpenter shop at Nazareth, but the moment He started to do mighty
things, He was called "Prince of devils," and attempts began to be
made to destroy his life. (See Luke 4:29.) Persecutions continued for three and
one-half years, until at last He was crucified, for no other reason than
because He had power which the powerless religious leaders of his day feared.
Peter was a "good fellow" so long as he was a mere fisherman, but when
he healed the lame man, they threw him in jail. Acts 3:7; 4:3. So long as
Stephen was just a "member" in the First Church at Jerusalem he got
along nicely, but the moment he "did great wonders and miracles among the
people" (Acts 6:8), he was called into judgment and stoned. Paul never had
to flee at night for his life, because of his religion, until after he had met
God in a supernatural way.
Even so, you will not meet with much
opposition and persecution so long as you are just, as the world would say, a
"normal Christian," but when you begin to accept God's promises for
your life, and to do the UNUSUAL, persecution will come!
Personally, I met with very little
opposition until I made up my mind to have all God had promised me as a
minister.
This opposition may appear to come from
people, but it is really directed by satan, the commanding general of the
opposing army, and using all the methods of warfare from direct frontal attack
to "fifth column activities" among our own people.
Again and again, Jesus pointed out to His
disciples the price of following in His steps, recommending that they count the
cost, and offering them the opportunity of turning back if the price seemed too
great, in proportion to the value of the blessing to be received. Our master
"for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:2.
If we suffer we shall also reign with
him." II Tim. 2:12. To the disciple who seeks to share in His power and
glory, it must FIRST OF ALL be pointed out that he, being not greater than his
master, must follow the same path of suffering, faithfulness and consecration
which his Master followed, if he is to reach the goal, if he would know the
abundant life -- the powerful life -- in this world, and share in heaven's
glory.
If the Son of God must suffer rejection,
persecution, cruel scourgings, and crucifixion, at the hands of those to whom
He came to minister, His disciple is not above suffering in order that he may
carry the gospel of deliverance to those in bondage.
If Christ Himself must reject all earthly
ambitions -- even refusing the opportunity to rule the world, when that
opportunity was presented aside from the principals of godliness (see Matt.
4:8-10) -- then surely His disciple, if he is to know real power, must have an
eye single to the purpose of God, rejecting all offers but His, no matter how
attractive they may be. His cry must be, like his Master, "Lo I come to do
thy will, O God." Heb. 10:7. Like Paul, he must be able to say, "I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ."
Phil 3:8.
If the Son of God must spend long hours of
the night, when the rest of the world was sleeping, alone on the mountain top
with His Father, in order that He might be able to cast out even those demons
of whom He said, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting"
(Matt. 17:21), surely His disciple also must spend hours in fasting and prayer,
waiting upon God -- learning to think and act in unison with God -- before he
can expect to cast out such demons.
"Men ought always to pray and not to
faint," Luke 18:1. Persistent, habitual prayer was one of the outstanding
characteristics of the life of Christ. When Judas desired to find Jesus in
order to betray Him to the priests, he knew that he would find Him in the
garden of prayer. Prayer to our Lord was more important than teaching and
healing, for He refused to allow Himself to be swept off His feet by the
multitudes who "came together to hear, and to be healed by Him" (Luke
5:15,16), but withdrew Himself from the crowd which demanded His attention into
the wilderness, and prayed. Prayer was more important to Him than the working
of miracles, for miracles do not generate themselves. Prayer is the cause --
miracles the result. Prayer to Jesus was more important than rest and sleep,
for we find that "in the morning rising up a great while before day, he
went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark 1:35.
And again, "He went out into a mountain to pray and he continued all night
in prayer to God." Luke 6:12.
If the disciple could attain the same
results which Jesus did WITHOUT PAYING THE SAME PRICE WHICH JESUS PAID, then it
would have to be confessed that the disciple had become greater than his
master. The "student" would have learned a better, more efficient
method than that taught to him by his "teacher." In the world, this
often happens. Many a musician has advanced beyond the one who gave him his
training. Many an artist has far excelled the one who taught him to draw and
paint. And many a scientist has learned for himself things which his science
teachers never knew. But the student of Jesus Christ CANNOT become greater than
his teacher. He cannot learn anything which Jesus did not know. He cannot find
a short cut to power with God. If he should try it, he will only meet with
disappointment and sorrow. His life will be shipwrecked and his ministry
useless.
For the disciple (student) of Christ,
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master (teacher)."
Matt. 10:25.
Before I could fully comprehend all which
God has spoken to me, suddenly He was speaking to me again, the words which
form the second step of the revelation which God gave to me as I waited before Him
in fasting and prayer.
My spirit which had been humbled and
almost crushed by the words of the first message was suddenly lifted up in a
blaze of glory, as I realized that although I could never be above my Master,
God had said I should be AS MY MASTER! (This I also found to be a quotation
from scripture -- Luke 6:40.)
This is not a promise (as some have
thought) which awaits the coming of Christ for its fulfillment. It is meant for
the followers of Christ HERE AND NOW! This promise was spoken to me directly,
for my own instruction and edification, but since it is a direct quotation of
scripture, it does not apply to me alone, but to EVERY ONE WHO WILL BELIEVE IT!
It is to YOU! You can heal the sick! You can see miracles! You can exercise the
gifts of the Spirit! (I Cor. 12:8-11) YOU CAN DO THE WORKS HE DID! God has said
that you could, and HE CANNOT LIE!
"God is not a man, that he should
lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he
not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num. 23:19.
"My covenant will I not break, nor
alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Ps. 89:34.
Then, "Every one that is
PERFECT" (that will meet the requirements, I COULD BE AS MY MASTER!
But some will say, "That is
impossible, for He was God, as well as human. And we are only human."
These are unmindful of the plain
statements of scripture, "Verily he took not on him the nature of angels:
but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore IN ALL THINGS it behooved him
to be made LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN." Heb. 2:16,17.
"But made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the LIKENESS OF MEN:
And being found IN FASHION AS A MAN, he humbled himself." Phil. 2:7,8.
"The MAN Christ Jesus." I Tim.
2:5.
One night, when Jesus and his disciples
were in a small boat, there came a great storm at sea, which caused the
disciples to be very fearful for their lives. Jesus rebuked the winds and the
sea, and immediately there was a great calm. The men who were with him in the
boat marvelled, saying, "What manner of MAN is this?" Matt. 8:27.
Their question is still the cry of many
today, when they observe some of His disciples, who by faith are claiming His
promises, and going forth healing the sick, raising the dead, and ministering
the word (as Jesus himself said they should -- Mark 16:17,18) with the
supernatural confirmation of signs following. Many seem to think that these are
some peculiar and different species, or manner, of men. They are not. They are
simply common, ordinary men, full of the Holy Ghost, and yielded to God for his
work -- men who have discovered that they can be AS THEIR MASTER, and have
dedicated their lives to reaching that goal.
When the people at Lystra saw that Paul's
command could bring healing to a man lame from his mother's womb, they said,
"The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." Being untaught
heathen they of course did not know that men could have such power. But many
Christian people seem to be just as unaware of the power which God has made
available for his people. When these poor heathen people would have offered
sacrifices unto Paul and Barnabas as Gods, they refused to permit this, saying.
"We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye
should turn -- unto the living God." See Acts 14:8-15.
Jesus truly was God, as well as man. Yet
it was not in His nature of deity that He walked upon earth and performed
miracles. The often neglected question is not "What manner of God is
this?" We as His disciples, need to ask as did those disciples of old,
"What manner of MAN is this?"
Jesus, by His own statement, was a member
of the eternal triune Godhead, composed of the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Jesus
Christ), and the Holy Ghost. He existed before the world was made, and shared
in the work of creation. (John 1:1-3.) He was not only WITH God and LIKE God,
HE WAS GOD! All the attributes of deity were His. With the Father, He was
omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal. All these are His today, as
He is glorified on the right hand of God in heaven. At the close of His earthly
ministry of healing the sick and working miracles, when He was ready to be
offered as a sacrifice for our sins, he prayed, "I have glorified thee on
the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now O
Father, glorify thou me with thine own self WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH
THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS." John 17:4,5.
The glory which was His before the world
was!
The glory which is His today!
But the glory which was LAID ASIDE when he
took on human flesh. Coming as a helpless babe, born of a woman, circumcized
like any other Jewish boy, increasing in wisdom and stature during childhood
and growth (Luke 2:52), weeping, hungering, thirsting, weary, sleeping and
waking -- partaking in every weakness and limitation of human flesh and blood.
(Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME. Heb. 2:14.) He was "IN ALL POINTS
tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
He was "in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him; and without him was not anything made that was
made." John 1:2,3. Yet for all this, Jesus USED NO POWER when He was here
on earth in the flesh WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TODAY to every believer! Such a
statement would be blasphemy HAD NOT JESUS HIMSELF made it plain, again and
again, that this was His plan.
"Everyone that is perfect SHALL BE AS
HIS MASTER." Luke 6:40.
"As thou hast send me into the world,
EVEN SO have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18.
"The works that I do SHALL HE DO
ALSO." John 14:12.
Although He was Omnipotent God, yet in His
earthly life and ministry He declared "The son can do nothing of
himself." "I can of mine own self do nothing." John 5:19,30.
"The words that I speak unto you I speak NOT OF MYSELF: But the Father
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10.
The answer to the disciples' question,
"What manner of MAN is this?" is found not in the powers of deity
which He used before He "was made flesh and dwelt amont us," nor in
the power which is His today in the heavenlies today. The answer can be found
only in His earthly (human) life. He lived that life AS AN EXAMPLE to those
whom He left in the world to finish the work which he had started while He was
here. "Leaving us an EXAMPLE, that YE should follow his steps." I
Pet. 2:21. He was our teacher (master) and we, His disciples (every one that is
perfect), SHALL BE AS our master! Had He used power which was not available to
us, it would be impossible for us to follow His example. But He left to us the
promise that we would receive THE SAME POWER and from the SAME SOURCE, that was
His!
"Behold I send the promise of my
Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with
POWER FROM ON HIGH." Luke 24:49.
"Ye shall receive POWER after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8.
These signs shall follow them that
believe: IN MY NAME they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues -- they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Mark
16:17, 18.
"Behold, I give unto you POWER --
over all the power of the enemy." Luke 10:19.
"He that believeth on me, THE WORKS
THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO." John 14:12.
"Though he was rich (in heavenly
glory and divine power) yet for your sakes he became poor, THAT YE THROUGH HIS
POVERTY MIGHT BE RICH." II Cor. 8:9 He folded it all away as a garment,
and laid aside His great wealth of power, and came into the world as a babe, in
the form of a servant, of no reputation, lived among men as one of them. (Phil.
2:7.) Tradition has invented miracles in his childhood, but the Word of God
plainly declares that "This BEGINNING of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee," (where He turned water into wine). John 2:11. He DID NO MIRACLE
nor manifested any superhuman power, BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM!
(Matt. 3:16,17; John 1:33.) It was when "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the HOLY GHOST AND WITH POWER" that he "went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM."
Acts 10:38. This is the secret of His success AS A MAN.
What manner of man?
A man ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND
WITH POWER. And God was WITH HIM!
Yet -- don't forget this -- a man who was
EVERY INCH A MAN! A man who faced -- and conquered -- EVERY TEMPTATION known to
humanity! A man who (though as God, He had been omnipresent) could only be in
one place at a time. Although as God He had neither slumbered nor slept (Ps.
121:4), as man, He suffered weariness (John 4:6) and required sleep (Matt.
8:24). He must go from place to place upon hot, weary, dusty feet -- His rate
of travel limited to the speed of walking, His feet which had trod the
immaculate golden streets of heaven soiled and bruised by the dust and stones
of the unpaved and filthy Oriental streets and paths of Palestine. How He
welcomed the cleansing coolness of the customary foot bath before meals -- when
some unselfish person thought to minister to Him in this way! He suffered
hunger and thirst, loneliness, weariness, and pain. He of whom it had been
said, "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand
hills. The world is mine and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 50:10,12), claimed
no part of it for Himself AS A MAN, but became even more poor than the foxes
and birds, for He had not so much as a place to lay His head. (Luke 9:58).
All this He did WILLINGLY for us, that we
might share the riches of His glory.
When satan tempted Him in the wilderness
(Matt. 4:3,4), the first temptation was that He should act in the creative
power of the ETERNAL SON OF GOD, in order that His human hunger might be
satisfied. Had He done this, He would have failed in being "in all points
like unto his brethren." It was important to the plan of satan that this
point should, if possible, be spoiled. But Jesus did not fall into this
temptation. In His reply is no assumption of deity. He answered firmly AS A
MAN! "MAN shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God."
He loved to refer to Himself as the "SON
OF MAN."
Since it is so apparent by the scripture
that Jesus took upon Himself our own nature and limitations, in order that He
might be made a proper example for us, it behooves us to study that example
carefully, considering the question, "What manner of persons OUGHT YE TO
BE in all holy conversation and godliness." II Pet. 3:11.
He was a man of power. He spoke as one
having authority (Mark 1:22). The people were astonished at this, for the
religious leaders of their day knew nothing of this power, but taught
traditions and theories and theological explanations. Jesus cut across all the
lines drawn by their fine points of doctrine, and DROVE OUT BY HIS WORDS OF
AUTHORITY demons, sickness and infirmity. When he spoke THINGS HAPPENED! He
spoke as one having authority BECAUSE HE HAD AUTHORITY! The traditional
religious leaders did not speak as He spoke because they had never been given
authority over the power of the enemy. How many "religious" leaders
today speak as the scribes and Pharasees! Those who are LIKE their master speak
with authority -- the authority which was Christ's while He was here to use it,
because He had received it from the Father (John 5:27). He came in the Father's
name (John 5:43), and His legal AGENT, to work the works of His Father.
("I must work the works of him that sent me." John 9:4.) While He was
on earth He chose disciples (first twelve, Luke 9:1, then seventy others, Luke
10:1,19) which He appointed as "deputies," giving them the same power
of attorney which He used. ("Lord, even the devils are subject unto us
THROUGH THY NAME." Luke 10:17.) Thus were they trained under His direct
supervision to be ready to carry forward "all that Jesus BEGAN both to do
and to teach" (Acts 1:1), when the time should come for Him to return to
the Father.
Having now returned to the Father, and
being on the right hand of God exalted, He has not planned that the work which
He began through such suffering and sacrifice should cease to be carried
forward. Before He went away, He left command and authority for the
continuation of His work. Those who believe on Him are made His agents, and are
commanded to do IN HIS NAME (by His authority, as by the power of attorney) all
the things which He Himself would do if He were present in the body! "IN
MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they
shall take up serpents (not as tempting God, but should it so happen by
accident, as it did to Paul, Acts 28:3-5) and if they drink any deadly thing it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover." Mark 16:17,18. "And whatsoever ye shall ask IN MY NAME,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13.
The gifts which He placed in the church,
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying (upbuilding) of the body of Christ (His church), Eph. 4:8-12, cover
all the great and mighty things which Jesus did when He was here in the flesh
(see I Cor. 12:7-11).
Never once did He teach, either by inference
or by direct statement, that this power would be gone from the world when He
went away. Rather, in his last commission to those He left behind, He declared,
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. GO YE THEREFORE
(because this power is HIS, and through Him OURS, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8) and
teach ALL NATIONS -- teaching them to OBSERVE (obey -- Webster's definition)
ALL THINGS (Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils,
freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. 10:8.) whatsoever I have commanded
you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Matt. 28:18-20.
These disciples, anointed with the Holy
Ghost (Acts 2:4), "went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord was
working WITH THEM, and confirming the word with SIGNS FOLLOWING." Mark
16:20.
So long as men are anointed with the Holy
Ghost, and God is with them, as it was with Jesus (Acts 10:38) and the early
disciples (Mark 16:20) and as Jesus said it should be "even unto the end
of the world" (Matt. 28:20), the works Jesus did will continue to be done!
The disciple should not be above his
master, but he SHALL BE AS HIS MASTER!
But if we are to be like Him in POWER, we
must also be like Him in holiness, in consecration, in meekness, in compassion.
We must be like Him in prayer and in fellowship with the Father. We must be
like Him in faith. We must be like Him in fasting and self denial. If it were
possible for the servant to be like Him in power without paying the price He
paid, then the servant would be above his Lord.
There is a price to be paid for all that
God offers to mankind. In a sense, it is all free, but there is a price of
obedience and preparedness. Even our free salvation is ours only when we have
heeded the admonition of God to repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
The "gift of the Holy Ghost" is ours only when we obey Him. Acts
5:32. Power with God LIKE JESUS HAD is for those -- ALL THOSE -- who meet the
condition, "every one that is PERFECT shall be as his master." Luke 6:40.
These words seemed even more startling
than the ones which God had already spoken. Surely this was too much! Could any
mortal ever hope to be perfect? Yet surely God would not ask me to do something
which He knew I could not do! And without doubt, this was the voice of God. I
had asked bread of my heavenly Father, and I knew that He would not give me a
stone. How thrilling to my soul when I learned that this, too, was a quotation
from scripture! I found it in Matt. 5:48. It was Christ's own command, not only
to me but to all who would be the "children of your Father which is in
heaven" (verse 45). Perfection is the GOAL set by Christ for every
Christian. Not every Christian has reached that goal. No Christian has a right
to boast that he has attained it. Even the great Apostle Paul declared,
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I
follow after" (Phil 3:12). No Christian worthy of the name will be
satisfied to be less than perfect. No Christian should make excuse for his own
imperfections, but should recognize them as failure to keep the command of
Christ, and strive earnestly to overcome them. PERFECTION IS THE GOAL!
For the benefit of those who may have been
taught that no person except Christ was ever perfect, let us note that GOD
HIMSELF ascribes perfection to a number of men. They did not claim perfection
for themselves, but God declared that they were perfect.
First of all, Job, the hero of the oldest
written book of the Bible was a perfect man. His friends didn't think he was
perfect; they accused him of hypocracy (see Job 8:6,13.) Satan did not think he
was perfect; he accused him of serving God only because of the material
blessings which God had given him. Job himself was willing to admit that he was
imperfect, for he declared, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes," Job 42:6. But when satan accused him before the Lord, God himself
declared, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like
him in the earth, a PERFECT AND AN UPRIGHT MAN?" Job 1:8. And then for the
benefit of all who might read this scripture, God added his definition of human
perfection -- "one that feareth God and escheweth (shunneth, avoideth) evil."
Many object to the teaching of possible
perfection on the grounds that they have never seen a perfect man. In Job's
day, God declared that there was only one. Again, in Noah's day there was only
one. Yet God declares that Noah was PERFECT! "Noah was a just man and
PERFECT in his generations, and Noah walked with God." Gen. 6:9.
Some declare that if one should become
perfect, he would immediately be translated, as was Enoch, carelessly
disregarding the fact that the scripture declares that Enoch 'walked with
God" for at least three hundred years before he "was not", Gen
5:22, and that "BEFORE his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God." Heb. 11:5.
All these Old Testament saints were
perfect, before even the law was given. No divinity, nor superhuman perfection
is attributed to any one of them. They were MEN, subject to like passions as we
are, but they knew and feared God, kept his commands, and carefully avoided the
overflowing evils of the idolitrous people among whom they lived, in some of
the most outstandingly evil ages in history.
Was perfection possible under the law?
Moses, speaking God's message to the
entire congregation of Israel, declared "Thou shalt be PERFECT with the
Lord thy God." Deut. 18:13.
Man is sometimes more critical than God.
When Mirian and Aaron complained against Moses, God took his part, speaking to
them out of the pillar of cloud and saying, "My servant Moses -- is
FAITHFUL in all mine house!" Numbers 12:7. While this does not use the
word "perfect", surely it meets the definition given in Job 1:8.
David was not persuaded that perfection
was impossible, for he declared, in one of his inspired Psalms, "I will
behave myself wisely IN A PERFECT WAY. I will walk within my house with a
PERFECT HEART." Ps. 101:2.
All these, and no doubt many others (such
as Daniel, Joseph, Abraham, Elijah, and Elisha, etc.) lived lives of holiness
(perfection) in the days before many of our advantages were given. It was to
his New Testament church that God gave the complete scriptures. "ALL
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable -- that the man of
God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Tim. 3:16,17.
It was not until our own dispensation that
Christ was preached, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching
every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ
Jesus." Col. 2:28.
It was to his New Testament Church that
Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers "FOR THE
PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING OF THE
BODY OF CHRIST." Eph. 4:11,12.
Unto them, the glorious outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, our constantly abiding Comforter, teacher and guide, (John 14:26)
had not been given. But to us he is given -- to every one who will obey God
(Acts 5:32).
How much easier it should be for us, with
all these advantages, to be perfect than for those who lived before these
things were given!
God says to us, "Ye are the temple of
the living Go../../../.. as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them . . . .
Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto
you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of
God." II Cor. 6:16-7:1.
These promises are ours! We CAN cleanse
ourselves from ALL FILTHINESS! We can PERFECT HOLINESS in the fear of God! Like
Job, we can fear God and shun evil, and be perfect in the sight of God.
This is not a "new thing". The
doctrine of entire sanctification has been taught by many outstanding servants
of Christ throughout the church age, and is accepted as sound doctrine by a
number of major denominations. Since this is only a small book, space prevents
quoting from the statements of fundamental truths of many groups. I will quote
here from only one, that found in the Constitution of the General Council of
the Assemblies of God. (Minutes and Constitution, with Bylaws, Revised (1949
edition), Page 38, Section 9.)
Entire Sanctification (br)
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness
without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost we are
able to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am Holy." Entire
sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly
pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word. Heb. 12:14; I Peter 1:15, 16; I
Thess. 5:23, 24; I John 2:6."
Call it what you will -- perfection,
holiness, entire sanctification -- it is not only possible, it is not only our
priviledge, it is God's COMMAND.
"Be ye holy in ALL MANNER OF
CONVERSATION." I Peter 1:15.
"Be ye therefore perfect." Matt.
5:48.
You say, "I know a lot of Christians,
even preachers, who say you can't be perfect, and there is no use to try."
We know them, too. They are not healing
the sick nor casting out demons! Sin is the devil's bridgehead in your life.
Let him hold the bridgehead, if you will. But it will rob you of power!
Jesus did not allow the devil to maintain
a bridgehead in his life, for he declared just before he was crucified,
"The prince of this world (satan) cometh, and hath NOTHING in me."
John 14:30. He had power to accomplish the work he came into the world to do
because satan had NOTHING -- not even one little bridgehead of pet sin or
self-indulgence -- in Him.
We, his followers, are admonished to keep
the coasts of our lives free of "bridgeheads" too. "Neither give
PLACE to the devil." Eph. 4:27. It is his business to make you think that
you can't expect to keep your life entirely free of his hideouts and landing
strips. If he can get you to leave him a place to work from, he can sabotage
every effort you make for God, and rob you of the power you have longed for.
The work God has given you to do will go undone. The sick will not be healed,
the captives not set free. Should you attempt to cast out demons, they will
laugh in your face, saying, "You let us remain in your own life, and then
would cast us out of others!" Demons know the power of Christ, and they
know and fear the power of a Christ filled Christian. But they have no fear of
one who is not holy.
Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew and chief
of the priests, decided that they could say the same words which Paul used,
adjuring the demons in Jesus name to come out of those who were possesed,
without being careful to have the background of holiness and consecration which
Paul had. (See Acts 19:13-15). The evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I
know, and Paul I know; but WHO ARE YE?! Then the man in whom the evil spirit
was, leaped on them, and overcame them, so that they fled naked and wounded.
They didn't think holiness was necessary, but they found to their sorrow that
it CAN NOT BE OVERLOOKED, if one is to exercise the miracle working power of
God! The reaction is not so immediate and violent in every case, for these
"vagabond Jews" had tried it before, and only once did this happen.
But never once did they succeed in casting out a demon. Demons flee only before
the power of Christ, or of a Christ-filled life. There is no way to have power
with God without holiness -- for Jesus himself said, "Every one that is
PERFECT shall be AS HIS MASTER." Luke 6:40.
There is much that could be said about
perfection. An entire book could easily be written in defense of the
possibility of obeying the command of God, "Be ye holy, for I am
holy." I Peter 1:16. However, enough has been said to open the eyes of the
person who is hungry for truth, and eager to have the power which Jesus
promised to his followers, THE MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD.
But it will take more than knowing that
holiness is possible. You want to know how you can attain it.
Not every Christian has reached the goal.
Not every follower of Christ has the power which he promised. The twelve chosen
disciples, even after having healed many that were sick and cast out many
demons in Jesus' name, met a demon one day who refused to go at their command.
Matt. 17:15. When Jesus had cast out the demon, the disciples asked him why
they could not do it. He gave as the reason their UNBELIEF, and lack of fasting
and prayer. These twelve chosen men were at times found to lack in the
manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit, and to show evidence of such works
of the flesh as pride (Mark 10:37), jealousy (Mark 10:41), anger (Matt. 26:51).
They slept when they should have prayed (Matt. 26:40), and deserted him in
times of trial (vs. 56). They failed to discern the plan of God, and rebuked
Jesus because he told them that he would be killed, so that Jesus said to one
of them, "Get thee behind me, satan: -- Thou savourest not the things that
be of God, but those that be of men." Matt. 16:23. These men had not
reached perfection, but they earnestly desired to be perfect, and worked
diligently to attain the promises of God, and God honoured them, and was not
ashamed to be called their God.
Do not be discouraged because you have not
attained unto perfection. There is an ultimate perfection which will only be
reached when we see Jesus face to face at his coming. There is a growth in
grace, growing toward perfection, which must continue so long as we remain in
the flesh. Our perfection may be likened to the fruit on a tree. From the time
the bud appears, the apple on the inside, though very tiny, can be perfect. It
has not taken on the size, color, nor flavor which it will eventually have, but
nevertheless in its present state it is perfect. As it is nourished, and fed,
and protected from frost and disease -- as the sun and the rain touch it, and
the heat and the cold, it grows into a perfect little green apple, and finally
the large, beautiful, rich, full-ripe fruit.
It was this "unripe fruit"
perfection which Paul referred to in Phil. 3:15 -- "Let US (including
himself) therefore, as many as be PERFECT be thus minded." Three verses
before, he had said, "Not as though I had already attained, either were
ALREADY PERFECT." (vs. 12.) Here he was speaking of the ultimate
perfection of the full ripe fruit, the perfection which will only be complete
with the resurrection of the dead. Paul was not unmindful of the perfection
which had already been attained, but with the true Christian spirit, he was not
satisfied to remain in that state, but, though he didn't claim to be perfect,
declared, "I follow after." "This one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are
before, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK." (vs. 12,13,14.)
There is no stopping place short of
ultimate perfection. Although the immature Christian may be perfect in God's
sight, HE WILL CEASE TO BE PERFECT WHEN HE IS WILLING TO STOP GROWING! When the
little green apple stops growing, it will soon wither and fall from the tree.
Perfection must be attained, and constantly striven for.
Growth must be maintained through FOOD
"Desire the sincere milk of the word (the Bible) that ye may grow
thereby." I Peter 2:2. A good appetite for the word of God is very
necessary if we are to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior." 2 Pet. 2:2. A real love for the Word of God is a part of our
perfection NOW, and means much toward our ultimate perfection when Jesus comes.
"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." 2 Tim. 3:16,17.
Many have plenty of time to read comic
strips, magazine, novels -- everything else but the Word of God. But they are
just too busy to study their Bibles! No wonder they do not grow! No wonder they
have no power to heal the sick and cast out demons. No wonder they are not
perfect, and do not expect to be. They are not feeding their souls the right
food. "Grow in grace and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior." 2
Pet. 2:3. This knowledge comes through study of God's word. Read it a great
deal. And read it as God's revelation to you. Believe it as you read it. It is
the word of Him who cannot lie. He means EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS!
Ample protection is provided for those who
abide in Christ. Whatever our temptations may be, we need not sin for "God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but
with temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it."
I Cor. 10:13.
"He that hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6.
The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish
you and KEEP YOU FROM EVIL." 2 Thes. 3:3.
"Now unto him that is able to keep
you from falling and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of his
glory." Jude 24.
Hallelujah! It is possible to be kept by
God, and to live on a higher plane than sin.
We are not ignorant of the devices of
satan. He can quote scripture, too. How quickly he comes to comfort the
imperfect Christian, by quoting the last half of Matt. 26:41 -- "The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." This portion should never
be quoted without the first part of the verse -- "Watch and pray, that ye
ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION!" Thus may we overcome the weakness of the
flesh.
Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh." Gal. 5:16. (You may be sure satan will not
add this passage to his quotation.) "Now the works of the flesh are
manifest -- of the which I tell you -- that they which do such things SHALL NOT
INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD." Gal. 5:19-21.
"For to be CARNALLY (fleshly) MINDED
is death." Rom. 8:6.
Hide behind the weakness of the flesh if
you like, but do not overlook what God says will be the result! Do not accept
satan's suggestion, even when he quotes scripture. "RESIST THE DEVIL AND
HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU!" James 4:7.
You can be perfect! God says you can. Only
satan says you cannot.
God has provided food for you in his word,
protection for you through his spirit, and a mighty agency for your perfecting
in his Church. In order that the church might serve to this end, "He gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; for the PERFECTING of the saints --." Eph. 4:11,12.
Do not think that you shall attain the
perfection which God desires for you if you fail to heed his warning, "Not
forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some
is." Heb. 10:25. Find a good church home, where God's word is taught and
BELIEVED, where the power of God is present and welcome, where God is
confirming his word with signs following, and where God's people "Speak
the things which become SOUND DOCTRINE." Titus 2:1. Then make it a
practice to be present whenever God and his people meet. Only thus can you be
perfected by the ministry gifts which God has placed in the church. Every
service in your Spirit filled church is planned of God to contribute something
to your perfection.
Patience also has a part. "Let
patience have her perfect work that ye may be PERFECT AND ENTIRE wanting
nothing." Jas. 1:4.
The tongue also plays an important part,
for "If any man offend not in word, the same is a PERFECT man and able
also to bridle the whole body." James 3:2.
"And above all these things put on
charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. 3:14.
Christ is sufficiently interested in
pointing out the way, that if you desire to find the way of perfectness, he
will place his finger on your pet sins, and show you what is keeping you from
the goal. A young man once fell at the feet of Jesus and asked the question,
"What must I do?" Although this young man was inquiring the way of
salvation, Jesus pointed out to him the way to perfection. "If thou wilt
be PERFECT, go ----." Matt. 19:21. He laid his finger upon the young man's
pet sin. Like so many others the young man felt that this was too much. Yet it
would have been a small price to pay for perfection here, and eternal life in
the world to come. Jesus is just the same today. When you come inquiring how
you can be perfect, he will not send you away without an answer.
Perfection and more perfection is always
the Christian goal. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, be
thus minde../../../.. and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, GOD SHALL REVEAL EVEN
THIS UNTO YOU." Phil. 3:14,15.
As you read this book, satan will probably
whisper to you many times, as Pharaoh said unto Moses (Ex. 8:25)
"Sacrifice in the land." In other words, it isn't necessary to go so
far, to separate yourself from the things of the world in order to have power
with God. If you insist, he will say, "All right then, only don't go too
far." He infers there is danger in going too far.
You can't go too far with God. You may go
too far in sin. You may go too far in self righteousness. But if you are
walking with Jesus, in the Spirit, you need not fear going too far. No believer
has gone as far as God wants him to go until the signs follow his ministry. We
have not gone as far as we should go until we can lay hands on the sick and see
them recover! No church has gone as far as the Lord meant it should go until
all nine gifts of the spirit are in operation in its services. DON'T LET
PHARAOH (SATAN) KEEP YOU BACK! Go on! Go all the way. God's grace is sufficient
for you. Don't let anything keep you from appropriating the promises of God in
your own life, whether you be lay member or minister.
"Let us go on unto PERFECTION!"
Heb. 6:1.
"For even hereunto were ye called;
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." I Peter 2:21-23.
This scripture makes it very plain to any
honest hearted child of God that Christ is OUR EXAMPLE in WORD and in DEED! We
can, then, WALK AS CHRIST WALKED, and we can TALK AS HE TALKED. This is not a
condition of one's feet or lips, but of the HEART! "For from within, out
of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and
defile a man." Mark 7:21-23.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is
he." Prov. 23:7.
Before one can walk as Christ walked, and
talk as he talked, he must first begin to THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT! This is
possible only as we "Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ." II Cor. 10:5. This doesn't just happen. It is an act of
determined consecration, requiring purpose and continual application, for the
mind loves to wander. It also requires a willing exchange, giving up the former
ways of thinking, and accepting as our own the MIND OF CHRIST. "LET this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:5.
God draws the line on some thinking. It is
possible to lead a victorious thought life. Not that satan can no longer come
with evil suggestions. Nowhere in God's word has He declared that man would not
be tempted. Even Christ was tempted. But one can refuse to allow his thought to
dwell upon evil things. A sane mind is a controlled mind. Evil thoughts can be
driven out, by filling the mind with right thoughts. We are instructed as to
what these thoughts are. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS."
Phil. 4:8.
Jesus thought right thoughts. That was the
reason that he could walk and talk right, and be a right example for us to
follow.
"Christ suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that we should follow his steps, WHO DID NO SIN." I Pet.
2;21,22. Christ did not live in habitual sin. He did not make excuses for sin.
He resisted the devil, and temptation, although he was "Tempted in all
points like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15. He is our example. And
He stands ready to help us to walk as He walked -- in his steps!
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth
not." I John 3:6.
This is contrary to much of the religious
teaching today. I am aware of this. I am also aware that multitudes of
religious people today, even many who believe in divine healing, find
themselves powerless when faced with those who need deliverance from sickness,
or demon possession. If you really want power with God, surely this matter is
worthy of serious, prayerful thought, regardless of former opinions or
religious teaching. There is a reason why some have power and some do not. And
it is not because God is a respecter of persons. Power is a direct result of
faith, and faith comes by obedience.
"Beloved, if our heart condemn us
not, then have we confidence (faith) toward God, and whatsoever we ask, we
receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are
pleasing in his sight." I John 3:21,22.
Hope is available to people without
holiness, BUT FAITH IS NOT!
If faith were available to people without
holiness, then people who can never see God could have power to ask and receive
ANYTHING THEY DESIRE from God, for God's unqualified promise to those who have
faith is, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING YE SHALL
RECEIVE." Matt. 21:22. And God has also said, "Follow peace . . . and
holiness, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD." Heb. 12:14.
Although many religious teachers declare
that everyone sins all the time; that it is impossible to live above sin; that as
long as one is in this world he must partake of a certain number of sins of
this life; that one must sin every day, and repent every night;--God's word
still calmly, simply states the command of God, "BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM
HOLY." I Peter 1:16.
Paul writing to the Corinthians, declared,
"Awake to righteousness and SIN NOT, for some have not the knowledge of
God. I speak this to your shame." I Cor. 15:34.
People who are finding excuse for their
habitual sin, according to this verse, have not the knowledge of God. This is a
SHAME! It is evidence that many professed Christians are spiritually ASLEEP!
They are not led by the spirit of God nor by the word of God, for the work of
the spirit is to reprove the world of sin and of righteousness, (John 16:8),
and the word hidden in the heart will prevent sinning against God. (Ps.
119:11.)
You can't have power when you are asleep.
WAKE UP! Quit making excuses for sin. Walk in the steps of him who DID NO SIN!
"Neither was guile found in his
mouth." I Peter 2:22.
Jesus healed by HIS WORD. (See Matt.
8:16.) "His word was with power." Luke 4:32. The follower of Christ
is assured that his words may also be words of power. (Matt. 21:21.) But if our
words are to be words of power, we must talk as he talked. Guile (cunning
craftiness, deceit) must not be found in our mouths.
Jesus WALKED IN THE SPIRIT. We who are his
followers are also exhorted to walk in the spirit. (Gal. 5:16.) In verses 19 to
21 are listed the works of the flesh, which are not present in the lives of those
who walk in the Spirit. There are some who harbor some of these works of the
flesh in their lives, making very little if any effort to overcome, who yet
feel that God should honor their word and their prayer, and give them miracle
working power. Yet verse 21 tells us that they which do such things shall not
only fail to have power, but "SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
How could one who is not even fit for the kingdom of God expect to have power
to work the works of Christ?
By studying this list of "works of
the flesh" with a dictionary, you will find that God has listed
uncleanness, lustfulness, immoderate desire, covetousness, hatred, discord,
quarreling, contention, jealousy, violent anger, rage, riotous feasting,
"and such like".
Those who do such things are NOT walking
in his steps who DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.
Paul exhorts us to "Put off the old
man (or, works of the flesh -- see context) with his deeds," and "put
on the NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that
created him." Col. 3:9-10.
Listed below are some of the
characteristics of the person who is carnal, and is not walking in the spirit.
This list, though incomplete, may open up new channels of thought for many.
PRIDE; important, independent spirit,
stiffness, or precisiveness.
LOVE OF PRAISE; love to be noticed; love
of supremacy; drawing attention to one's self, as in conversation.
ARGUING; talkative spirit; stubborn,
unteachable spirit; selfwill; unyielding; headstrong disposition; driving,
commanding spirit; criticizing spirit; peevishness; fretfulness; love to be
coaxed and humored.
Speaking of faults and failures of others
rather than of virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself.
Lustful stirrings, unholy actions, undue
affection and familiarity toward the opposite sex. Wandering eyes.
Dishonest, deceitful disposition; evading
or covering the truth; leaving a better impression of yourself than is true;
exaggeration, or straining the truth. >p>Selfishness; love for money;
love for ease; laziness.
Formality; spiritual deadness; lack of
concern for souls; dryness and indifference.
LACK OF POWER WITH GOD!
Get on your knees before God, and let him
talk to you about these things, and give you a list of your own. You may find
that there will be many other things which are now present in your life, which
God will show you MUST BE CHANGED.
A good check up on the things which we do,
say, and think is to ask yourself the question, "Would Jesus do
this?" If He would you are following his steps. If He would not, you are
missing the mark. You cannot have power with God. You may even fail to reach
heaven.
Such a life of holiness is not impossible.
God has commanded it, and "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform
it --" Phil. 1:6.
"Is anything too hard for the
Lord?" Gen. 18:14. God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for
thee". His grace is sufficient for you as well.
IF YOU REALLY WANT HOLINESS it is not
beyond your reach.
And without it you will never share in
GOD'S MIRACLE WORKING POWER!
"If any man will come after me, let
him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
The path that Jesus walked is a way of
self denial.
You are reading this book because you
desire to "come after him." Then DENY YOURSELF!
Someone once said, "No man spake as
this man! Few have learned to deny self.
While we read in the scripture of Jesus,
"Rising up A GREAT WHILE BEFORE DAY, he went out, and departed into a
solitary place and there prayed". (Mark 1:35) How many of those who would
do the works he did, find little or no time for prayer. How few of them can
bear solitude. Yes, often they pray beautifully in a crowd, or when others may
be listening. But the lonely hours of the night spent in solitary prayer bring
no glory to SELF. Self would rather turn a little, to find a more comfortable
spot on his comfortable bed, and drift softly back to sleep. Self says, "I
must have my rest." Self will raise his hand smilingly, when asked who
will pray an hour during the night or early morning. Self will rejoice that he
has been seen taking this sacrificial hour, and how well his neighbors will
think of him. But self will turn off the alarm when it sounds, and go back to
sleep. Self says, "It does no good to pray anyway, when you don't feel
like it." Jesus said, "Let him DENY HIMSELF." This is sacrifice
-- real sacrifice to God. And God honors sacrifice.
In one of my early meetings, in southern
Missouri, good crowds had been attending for a week, but not one soul had
responded to the altar call. My wife and I decided that this MUST be changed,
and agreed between ourselves that we would pray all night for souls to be saved
in that meeting. Already we were weary in body, for the hour was late, and the
service had been a hard one. Soon weariness began to creep down upon us, and
even to stay awake seemed almost impossible. Again and again one must waken the
other. There was no shouting, no excitement -- nothing to keep us awake but the
knowledge that in this little community which God had given to us as our
responsibility, souls were lost, and we must see them saved. And we had
promised God to pray it through. As the sun crept over the eastern horizon, we
knew that we had kept our vow, and that something was going to happen that
night. We could hardly wait for the time of the service. And that night,
victory came. One after another responded to the call, until nineteen souls had
found salvation, and were shouting the praises of God in a little country
schoolhouse, under the ministry of a preacher who had only been preaching three
weeks. As we went home rejoicing from that service, we knew that God had taught
us a lesson -- it pays to DENY SELF the rest he may think is rightly his. It
pays to pray it through, whether self is stimulated by any good feelings, or
urge to pray, or not.
SELF says, "Pray if you feel like
it." SELF DENIAL says, "PRAY ANYWAY."
There are times when prayer is a delight
-- when it is a time of refreshing to the weary soul. But there are times when
prayer is meeting the enemy face to face upon the battleground of the world, to
drag by force from his grasp the things which by God's promise are rightly
ours, but which satan will keep us from having, if he can possibly do so. There
are times when we must wrestle in prayer, as did Jacob, when he cried, "I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Gen. 32:26. There are times
when the answer is slow in coming, and we must hold on patiently as did Daniel,
for three full weeks (Dan. 10:2). There are times when this wrestling may leave
the body weary, and the nerves overwrought, as in the case of Elijah when he
had prayed down the fire and the rain (See I Kings 18, and 19:4). At times like
that, prayer requires self denial. But it pays. Only the person who BELIEVES in
the power of prayer will deny himself the rest which his body demands, in order
to pray. And God's promise is "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
BELIEVING, ye shall receive." Matt. 21:22.
Real prayer -- determined, prevailing
prayer -- is the greatest outlet of power on earth.
The early church prayed ten days and then
-- the miracle of Pentecost.
Moses spent forty days in the mountain
talking with God, and his face shone so that he wore a veil.
Muller prayed, and secured one million
dollars, making possible the care of 2,000 orphans.
Jesus went upon the mountain to pray, and
returned to cast out demons which go forth only by prayer and fasting. (Mark
9:29.) He did not say to the sorrowing father, "This kind goeth not out
but by prayer and fasting. Wait while I go away to fast and pray." He had
already fasted and prayed! Self denial, fasting and prayer, was a part of his
daily life. It was his habit of life. He prayed first, and when the need arose,
he was already "prayed through", and ready to meet the need.
How many think they are denying self, when
their self denial is only for selfish ends, to make their voice to be heard on
high. (See Isa. 58:3-7.)
Fasting is an important part of self
denial. The desire for food -- the richest, the tastiest, and the best -- is
one of the strongest desires of self. It was for food that Esau sold his
birthright. It was to physical hunger -- the desire for food -- that satan
directed the first of the series of temptations to Christ when he was in the
wilderness. Paul, that great apostle of power, declared that he was "in
fastings often". (II Cor. 11:27.)
Food itself is not sinful. But if it is
given undue importance, it becomes a god, and when it becomes a god, it becomes
a SIN.
Paul warned his church at Philippi of some
whom they might be tempted to follow, "they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose GOD IS THEIR BELLY, and whose glory
is their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS." Phil. 3:18,19.
Many who desire the miracle working power
of God in their lives today are hindered by the fact that they still would
rather miss God's best for them than to miss a good meal.
How hard it was for me to remain on my
knees in my closet of prayer when the good smell of food cooking began to
filter in through the cracks around the door! And it was not until I resolutely
turned my back upon the delicious stew, and went back to my closet without my
dinner, that I heard the voice of God. It was only then that I proved to God
that he meant more to me than food -- that my belly was not my God.
Fasting itself has no power to accomplish
miracles, unless it is done rightly. The Israelites of Isaiah's time cried out,
"Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not?" (Isa. 58:3). God's
reply, through his prophet, was, "Behold, in the day of your fast ye find
pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and
to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to
make your voice to be heard on high." (v. 3,4.) If our fasting is to help
any about making our voice to be heard on high, it must be accompanied by a
real heart searching, and seeking after God. It must include an enlarged vision
of our responsibility to be our brother's keeper. Fasting must be done
unselfishly, if it is to be done effectively. "Is not this the fast that I
have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and
to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy
house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not
thyself from thine own flesh?" (V. 6:7). When fasting is done God's way,
he has given the promise, "Then shall thy light break forth as the
morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness
shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. THEN SHALT
THOU CALL, AND THE LORD SHALL ANSWER: thou shalt cry and he shall say, Here I
am." V. 8,9.