The Lord's Prayer 9/9

"Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory." Matthew 6:13.

The last like the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer, points to our Father as above all power and authority and every name that is named. The Saviour beheld the years that stretched out before His disciples, not, as they had dreamed, lying in the sunshine of worldly prosperity and honor, but dark with the tempests of human hatred and satanic wrath. Amid national strife and ruin, the steps of the disciples would be beset with perils, and often their hearts would be oppressed by fear. They were to see Jerusalem a desolation, the temple swept away, its worship forever ended, and Israel scattered to all lands, like wrecks on a desert shore. Jesus said, "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars." "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8. Yet Christ's followers were not to fear that their hope was lost or that God had forsaken the earth. The power and the glory belong unto Him whose great purposes would still move on unthwarted toward their consummation. In the prayer that breathes their daily wants, the disciples of Christ were directed to look above all the power and dominion of evil, unto the Lord their God, whose kingdom ruleth over all and who is their Father and everlasting Friend.
The ruin of Jerusalem was a symbol of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world. The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Jerusalem have a more direct application to the last days. We are now standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. A crisis is before us, such as the world has never witnessed. And sweetly to us, as to the first disciples, comes the assurance that God's kingdom ruleth over all. The program of coming events is in the hands of our Maker. The Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations, as well as the concerns of His church, in His own charge. The divine Instructor is saying to every agent in the accomplishment of His plans, as He said to Cyrus, "I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me." Isaiah 45:5.
In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel there was the appearance of a hand beneath the wings of the cherubim. This is to teach His servants that it is divine power which gives them success. Those whom God employs as His messengers are not to feel that His work is dependent upon them. Finite beings are not left to carry this burden of responsibility. He who slumbers not, who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs, will carry forward His own work. He will thwart the purposes of wicked men, and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people. He who is the King, the Lord of hosts, sitteth between the cherubim, and amid the strife and tumult of nations He guards His children still. He who ruleth in the heavens is our Saviour. He measures every trial, He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul. When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies, His people will be safe in His hands.
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. . . . In Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12.

~Thoughts From The Mount of Blessings page 121

Angels Are Preparing Me for Eternity

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." Exodus 23:20

All heaven is engaged in the work of preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord's preparation. The connection of heaven with earth seems very close. . . .
The heavenly intelligences are waiting with almost impatient earnestness to make Him known to the human agents, that they may be laborers together with these heavenly angels in presenting Jesus --the world's Redeemer, full of grace and truth. . . .
The first tear of penitence for sins creates joy among the heavenly angels in the courts of heaven. The heavenly messengers are ready to be on the wing to minister to the soul who is seeking Jesus. . . .
Grand and glorious things hath God prepared for those who love Him. Angels are looking forward with earnest expectation to the final triumph of the people of God, when seraphim and cherubim and the "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" shall swell the anthems of the blessed and celebrate the triumphs of the mediatorial achievements in the recovery of man.
Jesus counted the cost of the salvation of every son and daughter of Adam. He provided abundant means that, if they would but comply with the conditions, none need perish, but might have everlasting life. . . . Every heavenly intelligence works as His agent to win man to God.
The angels of glory find their joy in . . . giving love and tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen and unholy. Heavenly beings woo the hearts of men; they bring to this dark world light from the courts above; by gentle and patient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer than they themselves can know.

~My Life Today page 307

Christ My Elder Brother

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17

The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations. . . . He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord "telleth the number of the stars"; and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be open for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden Bearer.
Circumstances may separate friends; the restless waters of the wide sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstances, no distance, can separate us from the Saviour. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love; to say, "I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me."
Human love may change, but Christ's love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save.
He desires us to realize that He has returned to heaven as our Elder Brother and that the measureless power given Him has been placed at our disposal.

~My Life Today page 297

My Guarding Angel

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Ps. 91:11

A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said, "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them."
I have seen the tender love that God has for His people, and it is very great. I saw angels over the saints with their wings spread about them. Each saint had an attending angel. If the saints wept through discouragement, or were in danger, the angels that ever attended them would fly quickly upward to carry the tidings, and the angels in the city would cease to sing. . . . They would bear the tidings upward, and all the angels in the city would weep, and then with a loud voice say, "Amen." But if the saints fixed their eyes upon the prize before them, and glorified God by praising Him, then the angels would bear the glad tidings to the city, and the angels in the city would touch their golden harps and sing with a loud voice, "Alleluia!" and the heavenly arches would ring with their lovely songs.
His angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing words for us, and influencing our actions. Thus our influence may be a silent, unconscious, but mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world.

My Life Today Page 303

The Blessing of Sight

Do you ever consider the blessing of sight? Have you ever considered the blessing of not only being able to see, but to see things in color? Things would be very dull life not being able to tell the difference between snowpuffs and rocks. Click Here to see and understand the blessing of sight!

God Vs Science

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students,
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."


The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one
of his new students to stand.


"You're a Christian, aren't you,
son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.


"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's
good."


"Is God all-powerful? Can God do
anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm
evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The
Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say
there's a sick person over here and you can
cure him. You can do it. Would you help him?
Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."


"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a
sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we
could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor
continues.

"He doesn't, does he?
My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though
he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the
professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his
desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God
good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on
this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right.. God made Satan, didn't he?
Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make
everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" ,
the professor continued, "If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and
according to the principle that our works define who we are,
then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there
sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet.
"Yes."


"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor
repeats his question.

"Who created
them?"

There is still
no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in
front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.



"Tell
me," he continues onto
another student. "Do you
believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."



The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have
five senses you use to identify and observe the world around
you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."



"Then tell us if you've ever heard your
Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."



"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."



"Yet you still believe in
him?"


"Yes."



"According to the rules of empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't
exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I
only have my faith."

"Yes,
faith," the professor repeats. "And
that is the problem science has with God. There is no
evidence, only faith."

At the back of the room another student stands quietly for
a moment before asking a question of His own.

"Professor, is there such thing as
heat?"

"Yes," the professor
replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."


"No sir, there
isn't."

The professor turns to face the
student, obviously interested. The
room
suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to
explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more
heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat,
white heat, a little
heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called
'cold'. We can
hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we
can't go any further after that. There is no such thing
as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it
has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or
matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is
the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word
we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure
cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is
energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the
classroom, sounding like a hammer.


"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as
darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without
hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not
something; it is the absence of something. You can have low
light, normal light, bright light, flashing light,but if you
have no light constantly you have nothing and it's
called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use
to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would
be able to make darkness
darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of
him. This will be a good semester. "So what point
are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical
premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must
also be flawed."

The professor's
face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed?
Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of
duality," the student explains. "You argue
that there is life and then there's death; a good God
and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as
something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science
can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never
seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death
as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that
death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the
opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students
that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary
process, young man, yes, of course I do."


"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes,
sir?"

The professor begins to shake his
head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is
going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of
evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is
an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion,
sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The
student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to
the other student, let me give you an example of what I
mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone
in the class who has
ever seen the professor's
brain?"

The class
breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who
has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the
professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's
brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the
established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable
protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due
respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we
trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the
student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.
"I guess you'll have to take them on
faith."


"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact,
faith exists with life," the student
continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course,
there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of
man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime
and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations
are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist
sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of
God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to
describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil
is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes
when there is no light."

The Professor sat down.

NEVER be Ashamed to stand up for what you believe!

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
~Matthew 10:33

A Merry Heart

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