Standing Before Courts and Councils

In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass.
The time will come when we shall be brought before councils and before thousands for His name’s sake, and each one will have to give the reason of his faith.
Every position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest of the world’s great men will be brought in contact with truth, and therefore every position we take should be critically examined and tested by the Scriptures. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the world’s greatest men, it will be done.
The Lord Jesus will give the disciples a tongue and wisdom that their adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. Those who could not by reasoning overcome satanic delusions, will bear an affirmative testimony that will baffle supposedly learned men. Words will come from the lips of the unlearned with such convincing power and wisdom that conversions will be made to the truth. Thousands will be converted under their testimony.
Why should the illiterate man have this power, which the learned man has not? The illiterate one, through faith in Christ, has come into the atmosphere of pure, clear truth, while the learned man has turned away from the truth. The poor man is Christ’s witness. He cannot appeal to histories or to so-called high science, but he gathers from the Word of God powerful evidence. The truth that he speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit, is so pure and remarkable and carries with it a power so indisputable, that his testimony cannot be gainsaid.
Maranatha p. 252
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for David and his ongoing cancer treatments. Rose
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Dear Friends,

When I was seven, my mother took me to Wisconson Dells on her vacation. We had a wonderful time. There were so many things to see and to do, that I didn’t get bored at all. I loved all the boat rides down the river to view the beautiful rock formations along the way. Occasionally the boat pulled up to a dock and we all got out and took a walk through some cool, damp, narrow canyon.

We brought back many souveniers from that trip, but my favorite was a record we made. On one of the street corners was a booth, something like the old telephone booths, only about four times as big. A sign on the outside of the booth had attracted my mother’s attention. It read, “Record your own record.” We went inside. There was recording equipment as well as a slot to put the money into that would start the machine.

My mother mailed that little record to my grandparents, who listened to it for awhile, then gave it to my mother, who, in turn, gave it to me when I became a teenager. I had it until it was destroyed in the fire we had when Ronnie Jay was a baby. That record meant a lot to me. It brought back memories of the wonderful time I had had on that vacation. I loved to hear that seven year old voice and marvel that I could ever have sounded so childish saying w’s for r’s. The equipment had also recorded my mother’s whispered voice, giving me the words to say.

Throughout the centuries, beginning at Moses and ending with John, God spoke through His prophets of old. Peter tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21 Paul adds, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 1 Tim 3:16-17

Our Great and Loving Creator sent us a record, a record that we should read and meditate upon daily. We do not have to be in darkness, for He has given us a Light. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Ps 119:105,130 On each page, from Genesis to Revelation, His voice is recorded with its message of love, mercy, and grace. How much we need to study it with a heart that is receptive to His Spirit, that same Holy Spirit that moved upon man to write it in the long ago.

John, at the end of his gospel tells of Thomas’ experience and then draws a lesson for us, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:24-31 “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” 21:24,25

God’s Holy Word will direct us along the path to Heaven. Without it we would fall off into the dark and wicked world below. Our Dear Saviour speaks of this, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” ” Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Matt 7:13, 14; Luke 13:24 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11

May we hold God’s Word as our only rule of faith taking it just as it reads, not coming to it with any preconceived ideas, but allowing it to interpret itself as Isaiah tells us, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Is 28:10. May we daily “study to show [ourself] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we follow the One Who is revealed therein that very soon we may walk with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.

Rose