E. M. Bounds
Power Through Prayer
Friday, May 29, 2009
Prayer and Preaching
" The preaching man is to be the praying man. Prayer is the preacher's mightiest weapon. An almighty force in itself, it gives life and force to all. The real sermon is made in the closet. The man-God's man-is made in the closet. His life and his profoundest convictions were born in his secret communion with God.The burdened and tearful agony of his spirit, his weightiest and sweetest messages were got when alone with God. Prayer makes the man;prayer makes the preacher;prayer makes the pastor."
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Our Greatest Need
"O, but we have need to be redeemed from ourselves rather than from the devil and the world;learn to put out yourselves, and to put in Christ for yourselves"
Samuel Rutherford
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Grace
" Grace withereth without adversity. The devil is but God's master fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons"
The Loveliness of Christ
Samuel Rutherford
The Loveliness of Christ
Samuel Rutherford
Friday, May 22, 2009
Over-Hope
"I hope to over-hope and over-believe my troubles"
Selections from Samuel Rutherford's Letters
Selections from Samuel Rutherford's Letters
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Mighty in Spirit to Move Mountains
"... not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" Zechariah 4:6
The word might in the Hebrew means power, force,valor, substance or wealth, often times relating to the force of an army. This word might deals more with mans strength or power, this why the Prophet Zechariah concludes this verse by saying "...but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts".
Jesus entered His ministry in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:1,18), and the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8;2:4). Only if the Spirit continues to govern and empower man will we accomplish God's will for us.
As we read further in verse 7 we find one example as why we need the power of the Spirit. "What are you , O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain;and He will bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it"
Each of us face difficulties that seem as large as a mountain and the only way we can overcome is by the power of the Spirit working through us. Thus we can shout "Shout Grace, grace..." for it is His power working thorough us that keeps us from being overwhelmed and dismayed.
Prayer is the key to our accessibility to the power of the Spirit. You simply cannot be mighty in Spirit without prayer.
E.M. Bounds says in his book Power through Prayer " What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use-men of prayer,men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men-men of prayer"
The word might in the Hebrew means power, force,valor, substance or wealth, often times relating to the force of an army. This word might deals more with mans strength or power, this why the Prophet Zechariah concludes this verse by saying "...but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts".
Jesus entered His ministry in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:1,18), and the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8;2:4). Only if the Spirit continues to govern and empower man will we accomplish God's will for us.
As we read further in verse 7 we find one example as why we need the power of the Spirit. "What are you , O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain;and He will bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it"
Each of us face difficulties that seem as large as a mountain and the only way we can overcome is by the power of the Spirit working through us. Thus we can shout "Shout Grace, grace..." for it is His power working thorough us that keeps us from being overwhelmed and dismayed.
Prayer is the key to our accessibility to the power of the Spirit. You simply cannot be mighty in Spirit without prayer.
E.M. Bounds says in his book Power through Prayer " What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use-men of prayer,men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men-men of prayer"
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Priorty of Covenantal Education
Cornelius Van Til wrote, " We have found in the covenant and in the creation idea a divine ordinance for education. Our educational program as involved in the covenant idea is based upon the concept of creation, and the concept of creation is once more based upon our idea of God. And as for our idea of God, we hold to it not as a moral or mental luxury but as the very foundation of the structure of human experience"
The Christian Community in the Western world is lacking in the training, educating, and equipping in its broader community setting, primarily because its too individualistic and independent in its thinking. True Christian Education teaches truth about God from His Word, combined with practical life application and strong biblical and theological base. God gives this responsibility to the parents and churches; they are responsible to bequeath this gift to their children, this is why it is called Covenant education.
Our assignment to "make disciples" is beckoning is to take action. The inroads of modernism and postmodernism into our culture present a huge challenge to families and churches today. But it is a noble assignment and we must rely on His great grace to accomplish it.
True Covenant Education will enhance church growth, renew and revitalize the church, and help us to remember who we are, why we are here, and the legacy we must pass on to the present and future generations.
The Christian Community in the Western world is lacking in the training, educating, and equipping in its broader community setting, primarily because its too individualistic and independent in its thinking. True Christian Education teaches truth about God from His Word, combined with practical life application and strong biblical and theological base. God gives this responsibility to the parents and churches; they are responsible to bequeath this gift to their children, this is why it is called Covenant education.
Our assignment to "make disciples" is beckoning is to take action. The inroads of modernism and postmodernism into our culture present a huge challenge to families and churches today. But it is a noble assignment and we must rely on His great grace to accomplish it.
True Covenant Education will enhance church growth, renew and revitalize the church, and help us to remember who we are, why we are here, and the legacy we must pass on to the present and future generations.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Nothing Shall Offend You
"Great peace have they which love thy law:and nothing shall offend them." Psalms 119:165
Nothing is an offence or stumbling block to the person who has the Word of God dwelling in him richly. He is neither stumbled by prosperity nor crushed by adversity, for he lives beyond the changing circumstances of external life. But whoever loves God's law shall enjoy richer blessings than the mere absence of hardship or misfortune. He shall experience the invigorating, faith-giving,cleansing powers of Him who is the Living Word of God.
"And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7
Nothing is an offence or stumbling block to the person who has the Word of God dwelling in him richly. He is neither stumbled by prosperity nor crushed by adversity, for he lives beyond the changing circumstances of external life. But whoever loves God's law shall enjoy richer blessings than the mere absence of hardship or misfortune. He shall experience the invigorating, faith-giving,cleansing powers of Him who is the Living Word of God.
"And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Fear of Men and The Fear of God
"Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. Deuteronomy 28:10 NIV
God's enemies fear God's saints. They may hate the saints,but they fear them, too. Remember Haman who trembled because of Mordecai. He feared him at the very time he was planning and carrying out Mordecai's destruction. But fear is not becoming to the Christian man or woman. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. The bible instructs us to pray for our enemies and do good to them that persecute us, but never to fear them.
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe"
Proverbs 29:25
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
I John 4:18
May the fear of the Lord sanctify us in the truth of God's word (John 17:17) and cause us to turn from sin and evil and protect us from ourselves and the breakdown of our consciences and moral resolve.
God's enemies fear God's saints. They may hate the saints,but they fear them, too. Remember Haman who trembled because of Mordecai. He feared him at the very time he was planning and carrying out Mordecai's destruction. But fear is not becoming to the Christian man or woman. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. The bible instructs us to pray for our enemies and do good to them that persecute us, but never to fear them.
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe"
Proverbs 29:25
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
I John 4:18
May the fear of the Lord sanctify us in the truth of God's word (John 17:17) and cause us to turn from sin and evil and protect us from ourselves and the breakdown of our consciences and moral resolve.
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