Power and Authority 6/29 Friday Faith

This is the final quote from the series of Christian and Missionary Alliance pioneers. Back to Smith Wigglesworth next week.


It is not power that He gives us. We do not have the power. He has the power. But He gives us authority to act as if we had the power, and then He backs it up with His power. It is like the officer of the law stepping out before a mob and acting in the name of the government. His single word is stronger than a thousand men because he has authority, and all the power of the government is behind him. So faith steps out in the name of heaven and expects God to stand by it.

-- A.B. Simpson

Negative Attitudes Affect Health 6/28 Thurs. Thoughts

If you want to keep the health of Christ, keep from all spiritual sores, from all heart-wounds and irritations. One hour of fretting will wear out more vitality than a week of work, and one minute of malignity, or rangling jealousy or envy will hurt more than a drink of poison. Sweetness of spirit and joyousness of heart are essential to full health. . . We do not wonder that some people have poor health when we hear them talk for half an hour. They have enough dislikes, prejudices, doubts and fears to exhaust the strongest constitution. Beloved, if you would keep God's life and strength, keep out of the things that kill it.


-- A.B. Simpson

It's better to maintain divine health than to need divine healing! Affirm Psalm 103:1-5 daily.  --Lep

Power of the Name of Jesus 6/27 Wednesday Wisdom

God revealed to me the NAME of JESUS in special power and enabled me to plead it within the veil for an hour or more until it seemed to break down every barrier and to command all that I could ask.


Lord, show me what the 'Double' means, all Your estimate of it, the Double portion of the Spirit. Double all You have ever done for me. Give me Elisha's blessing, the first born's portion -- all Your gifts and all Your graces.

-- A.B. Simpson, diary, 1907

Use Your Authority 6/26 Tuesday Truth

"I give you authority." This is the policeman's badge which makes him mightier than a whole crowd of ruffians because, standing upon his rights, the whole power of the state is behind him. . . . Are we using the authority of the name of Jesus and the faith of God?"


-- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

Redeemed From the Curse 6/25 Monday Meditation

In Galatians 3:13 we read: 'Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us"... What was the curse of the law? In Deut. 28 God names the blessings promised to the obedient, and then enumerates the curses that will fall upon those who will not hearken unto His voice and do all His commandments. He names the diseases which are known as 'the curse of the law' ... When Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, He redeemed us from ... the whole list of diseases named in that curse. ... Tell me the name of your disease and I will tell you one from which you have been redeemed and can be healed.

-- F.F. Bosworth, Christian and Missionary Alliance healing evangelist and pastor, author of Christ Our Healer, required reading until recently for C&MA ordination

Remedy for Sin and Sickness 6/22 Friday Faith

If sickness has come into the world through sin, which is conceded, it must be got out of the world through God's great remedy for sin, the cross of Jesus Christ. . . . If healing is provided for by Jesus Christ, then it is a redemption right which we may humbly yet boldly claim while walking obediently with the Lord.

-- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

God Glorified by Health 6/21 Thursday Thoughts

It is a prevalent idea that piety is easier in sickness than in health, and that silent suffering inclines the soul to seek the Lord more than the distractions of life. For these reasons, sick people hesitate to ask for healing from the Lord. They believe that sickness may be more of a blessing to them than health. To think thus is to ignore that healing and its fruits are divine. . . . Although many sick people may have glorified God by their patience in suffering, He can be still more glorified by a health which He has sanctified.


-- Andrew Murray

Healing is Normal 6/20 Wednesday Wisdom

Divine healing . . . is His normal provision for the believer. It is something that is included in our redemption rights, something that is part of the gospel of His grace, something that is already recognized as within His will and not requiring a special revelation to justify us claiming it.


-- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

Sickness is Contrary 6/19 Tuesday Truth

Sickness is contrary to the kingdom of heaven. . . . Disease is interference with His original and established laws. It is the sign of an invader somewhere in His kingdom. . . . God's answer is the restoration of His law from this daring infringement. . . . He treated sickness as a disorder in His kingdom, a menace to His honor and authority.


-- William C. Stevens, early Christian and Missionary Alliance leader, dean of Nyack Missionary Training Institute (now Nyack College)

Look and Be Healed 6/18 Monday Meditation

God told Moses to lift up the brazen serpent, which was a type of Christ. Those who were dying were carried to where they could look at the type of Christ, and all who looked received the double cure and were healed (Numbers 21). . . . If the children of Israel could look at the type of Christ and receive healing, why can not we look at the antitype, Christ Himself, and be healed? . . . Everyone who looked at the brazen serpent was healed. They didn't get healed looking at their swollen bodies that had been bitten by serpents, but by looking at the type of Christ. You can never get faith by looking at symptoms or at yourselves, but you can look to Jesus, and meditate on God's faithfulness, until faith will come into existence with out any effort, and then your diseases will evaporate like a mist before the sun.




-- F.F. Bosworth, early Christian and Missionary Alliance healing evangelist, pastor, author

The Value of Tongues 6/15 Friday Faith

An ideal New Testament church would have all of the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 effective among the believers.




-- Dr. Ira David, in The Christian and Missionary Alliance Weekly



We have been burdened for some time over the low ebb of life in the church. Is there not a crying need for the full manifestation of the Spirit in the Church? ... The nine gifts [of 1 Corinthians 12] are given for the perfection of the body, Should they not manifest in every assembly if the body is to perform her function fully?



-- R.S. Roseberry, early C&MA mission leader



Alliance leaders are quite agreed in believing that speaking in tongues should have a place in every Spirit-controlled church.



-- J. Hudson Ballard, early member of C&MA Board of Managers



Tongues are valuable . . . in proportion as the speaker communes with God. . . . It seems to us that it is not possible to reach the highest and best of our heavenly inheritance apart from them.



-- William T. MacArthur, early V.P. of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and Simpson's associate pastor

We Have All the Rest 6/14 Thursday Thoughts

We must repudiate this great, modern wave of seeking God for His benefits. The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honored for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him, we have everything -- we have all the rest.


-- A.W. Tozer, renowned pastor, vice president of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, editor of the C&MA magazine

Put Out Your Tongue 6/13 Wednesday Wisdom

It matters little what gifts and manifestations we possess if we have not the spirit of gentleness and love that will at least let your brother alone and if you cannot agree with him will love him and pray for him in silence. We believe that in almost every instance the test of spiritual health will be found by applying the simple rule which the physician usually first applies to his patient, "Put out your tongue."


-- A. B. Simpson

5 Benefits of the Baptism 6/12 Tuesday Truth

Personally I have never received such a spiritual uplift as when I receive this blessed Baptism [of the Holy Spirit] and spoke in tongues. The anointing then received 'abides' unto this day. These are a few of the many benefits that I would mention:


Deeper Love and Understanding of the Word of God. "A deeper love for, and understanding of, the Word of God than ever before."

A Sense of Our Powerlessness and the Power of Prayer. "A knowledge of my utter strengthlessness and of the power of the Name and the Blood of Jesus in prayer as never before."

A Greater Anointing in Witnessing and Preaching. "An unction in witnessing and preaching greater than ever before."

Greater Control of Our Human Tongue. "A control of the 'unruly member' in daily life since the Lord took peculiar charge of my tongue."

Grater Awareness of Spiritual Warfare. "A clearer understanding of the mighty works of the Holy Spirit and of evil spirits, in these last days of the Present Age."

-- Robert Jaffray, legendary pioneer missionary of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, later head of foreign missions

Abba Father and His Child 6/11 Monday Meditation

This is from the bulletin of Sar Shalom Messianic Congregation, Mansfield, OH, which I attended on Shabbat / Sabbath / Saturday. This is a "keeper".




You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Ps. 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Ps. 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matt. 10:29-30

For you were made in My image. Gen. 1:27

In Me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jere. 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Eph 1:11-12

You were not a mistake. Ps. 139:15-16

For all your days are written in My book. Ps. 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Ps. 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Ps. 71:6

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. I John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish My love on you. I John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Abba [Daddy Father]. I John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matt. 7:11

For I am the perfect Father. Matt. 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matt. 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jere. 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jere. 31:3

My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Ps. 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zeph. 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jere. 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Ex. 19:5

I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul. Jere. 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jere. 33:3

Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Ps. 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Phil. 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Eph. 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. II Thess. 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. II Cor. 1:3-4

When you are broken-hearted, I am close to you. Ps. 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart. Isa. 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Rev. 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Rev. 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Y'shua [Jesus]. John 17:23

For in Y'shua [Jesus], my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Heb. 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Rom. 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. II Cor. 5:18-19

Y'shua [Jesus] died so that you and I could be reconciled. II Cor. 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you. I John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Rom. 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of My son Y'shua [Jesus], you receive me. I John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from My love again. Rom. 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Abba [Daddy Father], and will always be Abba. Eph. 3:14-15

My question is: Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

The Purpose of the Baptism 6/8 Friday Faith

A little long, but you've got the weekend to read it when you have time:


[The Baptism of the Holy Spirit's] purpose is to fit us for Christian service as witnesses for Christ. It gives personal courage, boldness and faith in witnessing for God and testifying to men. It gives love for souls and holy tact and wisdom to win them. It gives effectiveness to our message and convicts the world through us of sin, righteousness and judgment. It not only works in the preacher, giving unction and power to his message, but works distinctly in the heart of the hearer, producing divine impression, conviction, persuasion, faith, and salvation. It equips us for our special ministries as evangelists, teachers, rulers, comforters, pastors, helpers. It gives wisdom for the emergencies which we are called to meet. It gives special faith for particular needs and exigencies and accompanies the workers with such special gifts of the Spirit, whether in healing the sick, or even sometimes miraculous answers to prayer as God sees best fit to bear witness to His Word and His worker. It is especially manifest in the ministry of intercession and becomes the spirit of intense prevailing prayer. Sometimes it is manifest in ecstatic tongues of praise and special messages of prophetic appropriateness in testimony, warning, comfort or encouragement. It is the spirit of revival coming down, not only upon individuals, but upon multitudes in mighty floods of Pentecostal blessing and leading men and women to cry, 'What must we do to be saved?; this blessed power is the heritage of the New Testament church. It is ours for the asking and receiving. It is the only power that can give energy, fervor, efficiency and glory to our work.

-- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

All the Gifts 6/7 Thursday Thoughts

Why may we not have all the gifts and all the graces of the Apostolic Church blended in one harmonious whole. . . . Why may we not have all the supernatural ministries of the early Church? . . . Why may we not have the ministry of teaching, the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, the faith of primitive Christianity, and even the tongues of Pentecost, without making them subjects of controversy, without judging one another harshly, because each may have all the gifts, and all in such beautiful and blended harmony?


-- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

Channel to the Heavenly World 6/6 Wed. Wisdom

[The Apostle Paul] does not ignore the gift of tongues by any means, but recognizes it as the distinct mark of divine power and presence, and a very glorious and blessed channel of direct fellowship with the heavenly world, and in some sense a real opening of the doors between the earthly and the heavenly.


It appears to be a divine ecstasy which lifts the soul above the ordinary modes and expressions of reason and utterance. . . . The spirit is the higher element and in the gift of tongues appears to overlap the mind altogether, and find its expression in speech quite unintelligible to the person himself and yet truly expressing the higher thought and feeling of the exalted spiritual state of the subject.

-- A. B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance