A Small Matter 11/1 Wednesday Wisdom

I tell you, beloved, that the external evidences of God and the power of His Spirit, no matter how wonderful, are a small matter compared with the consciousness of the Word of God in the human heart, in your heart and mine, bless God. -- John G. Lake

Receive Power 10/31 Tuesday Truth

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." We are entitled to it, bless God. We are glad to see some of it and wish, bless God, that we might see a great deal more. And beloved, I have a splendid conviction in my heart that we will. -- John G. Lake

The Only Prayer That Is Answered 10/30 Monday Meditation

There is only one prayer that is answered. It is not prayer that is answered but is the prayer of faith. It is the prayer of faith that shall save the sick. Believing prayer is not much noise. Believing prayer may not be any noise at all. Believing prayer is a committing, an intelligent committing of yourself to God, and your mind is stayed in God and your heart is staying in God and you are walking in God. You are ready to die rather than go to anyone but God. That is the real believing prayer. That is the continuous prayer. That is prevailing prayer. Blessed be God! -- John G. Lake

Low State of Christian Experience 10/27 Friday Faith

Indeed, I have this in my heart, that the low state of Christian experience that is common among men is mostly accounted for by this one fact, that Christians have failed to grasp the exalted place into which Jesus Christ puts us when we have been made sons of God. -- John G. Lake

Nothing Out of the Ordinary 10/26 Thursday Thoughts

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes: At the tabernacle service Thursday night, it was very sweet service with nothing out of the ordinary. Mrs. Arlow of Whurter, instantly healed of violent internal inflammation. -- John G. Lake [In how many of our churches today could it be said that an instantaneous dramatic healing is "nothing out of the ordinary"? -Lep ]

The Common Conception 10/25 Wednesday Wisdom

Indeed, beloved, I have felt, and I feel today, that the world has never had a proper comprehension of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all realize the common conception of the Christ as it has been presented to us by the Church at large. And I want to say with all frankness that while in a large measure that conception of the church largely is true, yet it is ten thousand miles below the real standard of God's conception of presentation of the Christ as I see it in the Word of God and as the Spirit of God has made my own consciousness aware of. -- John G. Lake

Holy Ghost Today 10/24 Tuesday Truth

And now, beloved, is the Holy Ghost in the Church today? Verily, yes. But you say, "We don't see Him work in this way in our church!" Why? Because you say, "All these things were for apostolic days." Can you find anywhere in the Scriptures that the gifts of the Holy Ghost were withdrawn from the Church of Christ? There is no biblical authority for such an assertion, but rather we read, "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29). -- John G. Lake

Introducing John G. Lake 10/23 Monday Meditation

I'm beginning a new series of quotes by John G. Lake. I had posted his quotes two or three years ago. John G. Lake (1870-1935) was a well-known healing evangelist in South Africa and the State of Washington, U.S. After 8 of his 16 siblings died in childhood, Lake began to study the doctrine of healing, which became his ministry focus. O, I praise God for the discovery of the gifts of the Holy Ghost and especially for the gift of healing. May we all learn to know Christ, not only as our Savior, but as our Sanctifier and Healer too. -- John G. Lake

Are You a Channel? 10/20 Friday Faith

This is the final quote from Frank Bartleman's book, Azusa Street. And a very fitting final quote it is! I may not be able to post on Monday and Tuesday. Before closing may I ask, Is your life making an impact where God has put you? Are you a channel through which the rivers of living water are flowing day by day? If the answer is "No," are you willing for it to become true? Are you prepared to get on your knees and say, "Lord, whatever it may involve, make my life a channel for those rivers of living water? -- Frank Bartleman

One Significant Difference 10/19 Thursday Thoughts

One significant difference between the early church and the church today is this: they believed in the Holy Spirit while we are afraid of the Holy Spirit; they knew the Holy Spirit experientially while we so often know Him only theologically and theoretically. Will we at least let Him have His way? This is the pathway to revival. -- Frank Bartleman

The Church Would Crack 10/18 Wednesday Wisdom

It is certain that at present we could not stand bitter or prolonged persecution. The church today would crack. It is only a revived, strong church that could be entrusted to withstand this fiery ordeal. Let us not hoodwink ourselves by thinking that it will never come to us -- many of God's saints are going through it right now in countries under totalitarian rule. -- Frank Bartleman (written about a century ago)

What Does the Future Hold? 10/17 Tuesday Truth

What does the future hold? We know it holds the blessed hope and glorious consummation of the age and the return of the Savior from heaven. But before that, the church should be prepared for two things: revival and persecutiion. As in apostolic times these two went together, so surely it will be in these end times. And to the prayerful and watchful, there are significant signs that both are on the way. -- Frank Bartleman

Don't Miss God 10/16 Monday Meditation

Beloved, who are we to tell the Almighty how He should do His work? The sovereign Lord works as He will. Of course we must test the spirits. Of course we will want to be sure that what comes is truly from heaven... Oh, let us have an open mind lest we be among those who cling to tradition and miss God. -- Frank Bartleman

Ready for Revival? 10/13 Friday Faith

What we see in the New Testament is surely available to us. But are we open for it? We may be interested in revival. We may believe that revival is the only hope of the church today. We may even be praying for it. But are we ready for what God may be about to do? -- Frank Bartleman

The Church Must Return 10/12 Thursday Thoughts

A sectarian, competitive, selfish, self-seeking church cannot survive. The church must return to the spirit of the early church in the book of Acts. She must yield to God and press into His "present truth" (2 Peter 1:12) for this last hour -- or perish in the fires of persecution and in her own blood. -- Frank Bartleman

Through the Fire 10/11 Wednesday Wisdom

We are rapidly approaching the last days. I am convinced that God is going to put the church through the fire to destroy the dross. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). And, believe me, nothing but 100 percent reality will remain! A theoretical salvation will not do. -- Frank Bartleman

The Rain Is Ready 10/10 Tuesday Truth

"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground" (Isaiah 44:2). Dryness is a condition that invites rain. At such times men cry for rain. It is a cause for encouragement when we thirst for God. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst... for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). It was after an awful drought that Elijah's rain came. The rain is ready, beloved -- when we want it, and when we are in a condition to receive it. -- Frank Bartleman

Where Is the Life? 10/9 Monday Meditation

Most meetings can only be kept alive now by continuous entertainment, professional evangelism, and a strong social spirit. And this is all too true in [evangelical] circles as well as in the older denominations. Where is the Life itself to draw the people and bring God to them as in the beginning? This is not New Testament. It is abnormal, grieving and limiting the Holy One of Israel in our midst. -- Frank Bartleman

Substitutes for the Spirit 10/6 Friday Faith

The exterior shell of every movement with which it loads itself and in which it later becomes buried, falls to lusting for "flesh". One can usually judge the progress of this process by the things the movement comes to demand. Instead of delight in the pure Word, prayer and worship, a love for souls, and zeal for good works, there come entertainment, programs, musicals, sensationalism, and oratory. These things have no place in essential, true Christianity, but are professionalism -- flesh! O God, deliver us from fleshly substitutes for the Spirit. -- Frank Bartleman

Keep Our Eyes on God 10/5 Thursday Thoughts

We must keep our eyes on God, not on a party [a religious faction]. Keep free from a party spirit [focusing on division]. That is indicitive of a respect of persons. Seek only God and His plan as a whole, His church as a whole. -- Frank Bartleman

We Tie God's Hands 10/4 Wednesday Wisdom

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8)! God never changes. We have changed. We are not waiting for God. God is waiting for us... God can only work when we are willing, yielded, and obedient. We tie God's hands. -- Frank Bartleman Thank you to all who prayed for my cataract surgery. It went very well. I have the other eye done next Tuesday.

The Fire of God 10/3 Tuesday Truth

No sacrifice on the altar means no fire. The fire of God never falls on an empty altar. The greater the sacrifice, the more the fire. -- Frank Bartleman Postings may be hit-or-miss the middle of this week and next, as I will be having cataract surgery.

All for God 10/2 Monday Meditation

The early church came forth from the Upper Room fresh in her "first love" (Revelation 2:4), baptized with the Holy Spirit, filled with God, possessing both the graces and gifts of the Spirit, and with a 100 percent consecration for God. This was the secret of her power. She was all for God, and God was all for her. This principle will apply in all ages, both individually and collectively. -- Frank Bartleman Postings may be hit-or-miss the middle of this week and next, as I will be having cataract surgery.