The Power of a Surrendered Life

There was just one thing that kept the children of Israel out of Canaan, and that was their unwillingness to trust God.

What then remains for us to do? Come with me through the streets of the city until we reach the lowest hovel. Stoop down beside the poor lost wretch, sunken in sin, and whisper in his ear:

"My friend, will you accept Jesus Christ ?"

Come with me to the house of the richest man in all the city, salute him in his palace, and say:

"My friend, will you yield to Christ ?"

Then set sail with me until we reach the shores of Africa, and say to those poor souls sitting in darkness:

"Will you receive the Son of God?"

But we grieve the Spirit more perhaps in matters of doctrine than anything else. We grieve Him in our lack of assurance. John says, "This is written that ye may know ye have eternal life,' and yet Christians are continually praying, "Save us at last." Do you not think that grieves the Spirit of God? We know that we are saved, not by our feelings, for they change like the waves of the sea, but because the word of the Lord hath spoken it.

is able to save unto the uttermost. Has He not told us in Jude that He is able to keep us from stumbling? Is anything too hard for the Lord?

is not a question as to whether I can keep from sinning or notI know that I cannot, for I have tried it many years; but the question is as to whether Jesus Christ can keep me. Who am I that I should limit the power of the Almighty?

, then, if you do not believe that you are filled, you are grieving the Holy Spirit of God.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do." (John 14:13.) Have you ever asked to be filled with the Spirit?

What does Paul mean when he says, "Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess"? We take that to be a command. "But be filled with the Spirit" is the rest of the same verse, and that is just as much a command as not to be drunk with wine. The only difference between the first command and the second is that one is negative and the other is positive. Are you filled with the Spirit? If not, you have disobeyed God's command, and there is a barrier between you and Him.

What does Paul mean when he says, "Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess"? We take that to be a command. "But be filled with the Spirit" is the rest of the same verse, and that is just as much a command as not to be drunk with wine. The only difference between the first command and the second is that one is negative and the other is positive. Are you filled with the Spirit? If not, you have disobeyed God's command, and there is a barrier between you and Him.

seems to me that we must at least grieve the Spirit when we add to or take from any part of revealed truth.