That I May Know Him!

By Octavius Winslow

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection." Philippians 3:10

Of the downward tendency of our hearts we are, alas! but too conscious. We need an antagonistic principle- something to counteract the overworking influence of an ungodly world. Where shall we meet with it? We answer, in the power of Christ's resurrection, felt, realized, and experienced in the soul. This is the argument of Paul: "You are a risen people, risen in union with Christ. If this be so, then seek after heavenly mindedness, setting your affections on things above." What a heaven-attracting power, then, has this glorious truth! What is Christ? He is alive. Where is Christ? He is in heaven, at the right hand of God, as my head- my representative- my forerunner- my treasure- my all. Then, let me rise! Shall not my affections soar to their best beloved? Shall not my heart be where its treasure is? Shall I set my mind upon things on the earth, when my Lord rose out of the earth, and ascended above the earth, and bids me rise and follow Him in faith, in spirit, and in love, until He calls me to come away to Him entirely, that I may be ever with Him and behold His glory? If I am indeed risen with Christ, then let me evidence it by my increasing spiritual-mindedness. Christ, who is my life, is in heaven- why should I needlessly be buried in the earth? Why allow- as I appear to do- that there is an object upon earth whose claims to my love are paramount, whose beauty to my eye is greater, whose attraction to my soul is stronger, than my risen, ascended, and glorified Lord? Is there upon earth one who loves me as Jesus loves me? Is there one who has done for me what Jesus has done? Is there one who is doing for me now what Jesus is doing? Is there one who is to me such a friend, such a brother, such a counselor as Jesus? No, not one! Then, why should not my thoughts be more with Him? Why should not my heart cling closer to Him? Why this vagrancy of mind, this truancy of affection, this wandering of desire; why this forgetfulness, coldness, and cleaving to earth, when my Lord is risen, and I am professedly risen with Him? Oh, to feel more sensibly, more deeply; more constantly the power of His resurrection! Lord! I detect my heart settling down on creature things- objects of sense and sin. My business is a snare- my domestic blessings are a snare- my friendships are a snare- my position is a snare- the too fond opinion which others entertain of me is a snare- my grace, my gifts, my usefulness, through the corruption of my heart, are snares. Lord, place beneath my soul the mighty lever of Your resurrection, and lift me towards Yourself! Oh, let me feel the earth-severing, the heaven-attracting power of Your resurrection-life! Having been buried with You by baptism into death, sincerely would I now rise with You, like as You were raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; that I might walk with You in newness of life, until I reach You in the realms of glory.
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Are you in need of Genuine Revival?

Are you in need of Genuine Revival? Is your heart cold to the things of God? Then Ian Paisley's sermon on Genuine Revival is just the message for you. Even if you just want to stoke the fire that is in already in your heart than I would challenge you to listen. Based on the great text of Ezekiel 47, Mr. Paisley will encourage your heart and challenge your apathy. Enjoy the message and please feel free to leave comments!

Thanks,

Bro. Pat

Communion with God

“I in them.” - John 17:23

C. H. Spurgeon

If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father’s house; but see his kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more, he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts, that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for he is thy Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh.

How is your communion with God? Is your heart continually warmed by the fire of communion with the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost? We are living in the last days and it is imperative that we daily seek the communion that will sustain us during these difficult times. Are we continually taking up the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we faithful to spend time alone with our God in prayer and the study of His word? Are we seeking every opportunity to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord? May the Lord Jesus Christ give us strength as we have daily communion with Him!

2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Bro. Pat

Great Men by The Grace of God

If you long to be a great man or women of God, by His grace alone, then I highly recommend that you take time to listen to this challenging message by Paul Washer. This is a first of a six part series. The rest of the messages will be added as they are made available.

Thanks,
Bro. Pat

Times of Refreshing

Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

One of the evidences that a time of refreshing has come from the Lord, is the overwhelming desire of the unsaved, to repent and be converted. Another evidence of this, is when the regenerated believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, has a heightened sensitivity to sin and worldliness. God throughout the ages has sovereignly sent these times of refreshing to the church. When we become apathetic and unwilling to repent, he will bring a revival of conviction, upon those in the church, to repent and move back towards their first love. This in turn will cause the church to preach the gospel of repentance and lordship, with greater fervor, to a lost and dying world.

The following video is a compilation of great preachers, preaching and giving eyewitness accounts to great revivals of the past. My hope for us is as we watch this video that the Lord Jesus Christ, would stir up our spirit’s to walk daily in the true Spirit of revival. I hope that you enjoy The Revival Hymn.

Bro. Pat