An Anonymous Phone Call

Isn't it amazing how God works in our lives! 

 On a Saturday night several weeks ago, the pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. 

It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone.

The pastor let the phone ring many times. 

He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few

minutes. 

When he tried again she answered right away.  He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. 

They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night.

  The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night.

The pastor couldn't figure out what the man was talking about. 

Then the man said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer."

The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to

call his wife.

The man said, "That's, OK.  Let me tell you my story.

You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed,

'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.'

At that point my phone started to ring. 

I looked at the caller ID, and it said,

'Almighty God'.  I was afraid to answer!"

The reason why it showed on the man's caller ID that the call came from

"Almighty God" is because the church that the pastor attends is called Almighty God Tabernacle!!...... :-)

Our Lord cares for us at all times……

Blessings.......

Kingdom Properties Are Not Subject To Earthly Taxation

A tax assessor came one day to a poor Christian to determine the amount of taxes he would have to pay. The following conversation took place:
"What property do you possess?" asked the assessor.

"I am a very wealthy man," replied the Christian.
"List your possessions, please," the assessor instructed.

The Christian said:
"First, I have everlasting life, John 3:16
Second, I have a mansion in heaven, John 14:2
Third, I have peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7
Fourth, I have joy unspeakable, 1 Peter 1:8
Fifth, I have divine love which never fails, 1 Corinthians 13:8
Sixth, I have a faithful wife, Proverbs 31:10
Seventh, I have healthy, happy obedient children, Exodus 20:12
Eighth, I have true, loyal friends, Proverbs 18:24
Ninth, I have songs in the night, Psalms 42:8
Tenth, I have a crown of life, James 1:12"

The tax assessor closed his book, and said, "Truly you are a very rich man, but your property is not subject to taxation."

¸♬´¯`♬.¸¸¤ ♥ Safe in the Father's Arms ♥ ♪ •♭·.·´¯`· ¤

A little boy was helping his father move some books out of an attic into more spacious quarters downstairs. The little boy was helping his dad, even though he was probably slowing down things more than he was actually assisting. But that boy had a wise and patient father who knew it was more important to work at a task with his young son than it was to move a pile of books efficiently. Among this man's books, however, were some rather large study books, and it was a chore for the boy to get them down the stairs. As a matter of fact, on one particular load, the boy dropped his pile of books several times. Finally, he sat down on the stairs and wept in frustration. He wasn't doing any good at all. He wasn't strong enough to carry the big books down a narrow stairway. It hurt him to think he couldn't do this for his daddy. Without a word, the father picked up the dropped load of books, put them into the boy's arms, and scooped up both the boy and the books into his arms and carried them down the stairs. And they continued load after load, both very much enjoying each other's company. The boy was carrying the books, and the dad was carrying the boy.

Friends many times in our lives our Heavenly Father who knows the importance of us participating and working along with Him in the service of the Kingdom, also knows that many times we will fall, play with sin, get in to self-pity, frustration and even at times might get angry about the whole situation that the Father has allowed in our lives. Sometimes we become guilty for not able to serve our Father due to the inability of the sinful nature that pulls us at times drastically and despairingly. But the Father picks us each time and gives us hope teaching us that we can never be out of reach of the long arms of the Lord. As we start to carry on His work, He starts to carry us in His work.

Hear what Jesus has promised us about this in John 10:27-30, "27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one." All we have to do is keep believing that the Father loves us no matter what happens in our life, and keep carrying on His work without getting lost in despair due to believing the lies of the enemy who always says, 'Because you have sinned or sin, the Holy Father doesn't love you.' The next time the devil says such lies, point your finger towards him and say, "You father of all lies, my Heavely Father's will says that He loves me as much as He loves Jesus eternally (John 17:23). So you better run away in JESUS name!"

Learn to cherish and enjoy the eternal love of the Father. Our Heavenly Father Himself loves us individually, sometimes He chastises us due to our disobedience, rebellion or fruitless lives (Heb 12:4-11). But altogether it is for our good and a eternal bright future that He is doing to us now. Never ever question the love of God even for a moment, that is the only joy we can give to our dear and loving Father in Heaven right now.

A PRAYER FOR YOU : "Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your eternal love towards me that you have shown in Christ Jesus. It has never changed from the day I became your son and it will never change even to the day I will meet you face to face (Gal 3:26). Abba Father (Gal 4:6-7)! Many times I feel hard to face your chastisement, as I am your son being trained for greatness (Heb 12:7). Give me enough spiritual revelation and understanding to know that all your chastisements in my spiritual service is all working together for my good future now and for eternity (vv 10-11; Rom 8:28; 12:1-2; Psalm 119:67, 75; Eph 1:17-19). Thank you for helping me serve you as a younger son in training to be conformed to the image of your eldest Son Jesus, my elder Brother (Rom 8:29; Heb 2:11). Help me love you with the same love with which you love me and remind me that you are keeping me always in your hand as you had promised. I Thank you and praise you for your love. Amen and Amen!"

www.apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com

© 2011 ℳїᾔїṧṫґїεṧ øƒ Åßя@нαм ℑṧя@εℓ

The Sweet Journey of Undying Faith

When we travel by faith, many people ask us, has the thing that you told had it not still happened? All we can truly say from our heart is, I am nearer to it than I was before. I saw it far then, but now I see it nearer than before. That is the walk of faith that God leads us many times in to. May our faith increase day by day to experience the reality of God's promise inside us first, before it gets manifested to us tangibly on the outside. - Abraham Israel

As we go nearer and nearer to all that God had promised, slowly our sight gets enlightened with the perfect beauty of our Saviour, so that the only longing we will feel inside us is to be nearer to Him and Him alone. 

The following song conveys the same message of longing to be nearer to our God, as you read it may the passion of God stir inside you and draw you nearer to Him than before.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

Still all my song would be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! 

Lyrics: Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848 

Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872 

Undying Faith Meets the Heavenly Hope 

  " 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Heb 11:13-16). You can read the following post about "The City of God" to know more about the beautiful city that God has prepared for you : http://apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com/2010/05/city-of-god-in-heaven-and-on-earth.html. Much Blessings from above.....  

www.apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com

"Thou Shalt Not" With a Difference

The moment some one says "Thou Shalt Not", in the next few seconds what usually comes to our mind will be "The Ten Commandments". Cause most of us have been trained in that way from our childhood Sunday school days :). But this "Thou Shalt Not" is different from what we usually think. ENJOY!


.... " Thou Shalt NOT " ....


You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.


You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.


You shall not carry grudges, for they are the heaviest of all life's burdens.


You shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.


You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.


You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!


You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own.


You shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.


You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.


Author Unknown





www.apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com

Walk the Talk!

The Hypocrite is one who wants to speak big and do big things in order to get applauded by men for their own greatness. He is the one who wears a mask to the outside world, but inside he/she does not allow God to change their inner soulish character of self, pride, coveteousness and deceit. A Hypocrite in gist is "One who acts to be what he is not; one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of godly character, when he doesn't even have an ounce of it."

The word actor and hypocrite come from the same root word in Greek which strongly shows that a hypocrite is an actor, pretender, pretending to have love for you but does not. Saying the butter coated words of love but inside are bitter. Making the motions of love but does not mean even a little bit of it. Putting on a good face of love but has a hidden agenda behind it. Being totally charming and loving but has a ulterior motive for doing it. Those kind of Hypocritical person does not really love you, but is selfish enough to use you as much as possible for the advancement of their own. Pretending to have strong feelings for you but it is all a first class stage act.

Abraham Lincoln one of the greatest reformer and ex-president of the United States of the nineteenth century, described a Hypocrite philosophically as "the man who murdered both his parents... pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan." How true it is when Hypocrites act as those who know nothing of what they have been doing when confronted with their Hypocrisy face to face.

The High Five Signs of a Hypocrite

1) They always love to sit in the places of authority, honor and glory (Matt 23:1-2).

2) They love to say but do not do (V 3).

3) They make people do things tyranically those things they do not even slightly think of doing it, even for a single time out of love for God. But all their works are done to make people notice and appreciate that they are great men walking ever so humbly than any other person they can ever find in the entire world of religion (VV 4-5).

4) They love the best places and honourable seats before men in the public and love to be called "Great Noble Person!!!" (V 6-7).

5) To appear as a spiritual person before men, they make loud, long and poetical prayers before men (V 14).

The Hypocrites outward public lives and reputation before men are very appreciatable, but deep inside the recesses of their heart these men are full of coveteous extortion and seld-indulgence of every kind (V 25). God sees the motives and not just the outward actions (1 Samuel 16:7). This is why most men who are called great before men end up as first graded "HYPOCRITES" before God.

If I ask you, "Do you like to end up as an mask wearing or dramatically acting hypocrite?" I believe that you sure don't want to be one. Then be always open before God and always confess before God the moment you know that you have done something wrong (1 John 1:9). It might be humbling to yourself, but you will be enriched with MORE GRACE TO REIGN in this life sucessfully (James 4:6, 10; Rom 5:21).

The one who is transparent before God will also be one before men, cause one cannot work without the other.

The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give to others. ~Author Unknown

www.apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com

Is that you God?

I want to share a important information that I believe will bless us all who are many times asking this question "Is that you God?" as we hear and see the various coincidences that lifts up our spirit through out our trials we face within and without.

Recently dad who is serving the Lord has been found out with some bad cholestrol that was not going down for nearly the last five or six months, actually he has always been healthy and weighed the same for the last 30 to 40 years. That is just actually amazing and is the grace of God. But doctors advised him to go and do an angiogram which is like a detailed check up in to the heart through letting a camera through the nerves right in to the heart.

Dad was in good spirit, but some how as a trial he got cold just before the test and dad felt so bad when they conducted the test for more than an hour and half inside an air-conditioned testing theatre. While he came out of the test he was shivering due to the cold chill he felt through out his body, was feeling thirsty extremely due to anasthesia to the extent he told me that he thought it was the end and also had a very high temperature. There we are me and my brother, dad prayed for Himself and then told both of us to pray for him even as the nurses tried to provide more woolen blankets to him.

As I prayed with tears in my eyes, by the authority of the Lord upon me I pronounced that God is dispatching a host of angels to touch him and be all around him. As I pronounced the word of the Lord over him which I heard in my spirit, then my Elder Brother prayerd for a while. Hardly ten minutes passed as I was believing what the Lord had told me, completely the whole thing got subsided. I began to praise the Lord for His deliverance!

But then the doctors diagnosis was that Dad should go in for a Bypass operation as he is having some three to four blocks in his heart at critical places with emergency needs. Then as I was sitting near his bed, suddenly he remembered the previous operation for Hernia nearly 5 years ago in which as he was seeking the Lord on the night before the operation went on. Then he told me that on that night he had seen a vision which gave him the strength to go for the operation with faith. He told me that in the vision he was sleeping in that private ward, suddenly he felt that in the night as though the front door to that room was not bolted but was open. He thought of closing it in the vision, before he could do it he felt that somebody was standing behind the door and was trying to come in. Then he was only able to see a glorious shining light come out of the door that was being opened and suddenly out of that light he heard a glorious voice that said to him, read "Ps 121". Suddenly he realised that it was only a vision and it was nearly 2 hours past midnight. Immediately he took his Bible which he always keeps near the bedside and began to read it. In it was written my dad's name "Indeed, He who watches over Israel neighter slumbers nor sleeps." (Psa 121:4). And in the morning while I saw him before the operation he was joyful and full of faith. And then slowly he told me about the assurance that God has given to him that past night. The operation went on well by the grace of God and he began to serve the Lord better than before. Praise the Lord!

I don't know why he did this, but repeated this vision to me who was sitting by his bed side after we slowly conveyed to him about the doctor's diagnosis. As I was thinking about it for a while, we received calls from different men and women of God for the next hours. As they began to pray, I literally heard them say this same Ps 121 in their prayers at least in part and reference. I told my mom and she was surprised to hear how God was reminding us about His promise. Then some four days later, a beloved believer fasted for Dad's health and sent me an sms saying, read "Ps 121": the promise I got from God regarding dad's health. Again I told my mom and we rejoiced of how God reminds us of His promsie again. Do we call it coincidences or should we ask God, "Is that you God?". The world may call it coincidences because it does not know the God who cares His children who go through trials and sufferings, but as for us we should praise God for the ways in which He speaks and gives us assurance of how he watches and cares for us individually in the moments of our lives greatest crisis. Surely our God who watches over us, finally delivers us from those evil tidings that has come from the wicked one (Ps 34:19). Praise the Lord!

www.apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com

It is all in how we deal with what we have?

I have always been fascinated by some of the inspiring stories of how people live positively inspite of the hard and crushing circumstances they face. This story I hope will inspire you as much as it inspired me positively.  


A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. 


His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. 


Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' 


'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. 


Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. 


Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. 


Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life. 


Our mind is like a bank account. All our positive throughts are like real money that will last with us until we die and even afterwards in eternity. All our fears, worries, unforgiveness, selfishness and coveteousness are like counterfiets that we put in to our account which at the end when we start to withdraw we will be more hurt than before because at that time we will be realising that it has no more value and we have fully wasted the time we had in the past. You can only withdraw from what you've put in. So from now on you decide whether you will deposit the real currency of positive thinking of doing God's will for your great future or knowingly let yourself be deceived by counterfeit deposit.


If you really want to deposit real currencey, learn to forgive people before the day ends, learn to be satisfied and thankful for what you are today with what you have, learn to love others unconditionally, choose to be happy in all circumstances, remember only good things in your mind and learn to let go the bad things by the grace of God and finally always think positively by faith in the positive life giving word of God.


Apostle Paul who was one of the greatest positive thinker taught this before 2000 years ago itself by saying, " Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Php 4:8, Amp).


Like this old man in the preceding story, we can see that this Apostle Paul was a satified man at the end of his life when he said, "7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2Ti 4:7-8). In other words Paul was remembering at the end of his life the positive life that he had lived in the past by having fought the great faith fights of his life in rejecting all the counterfiet notes of fear, worries, coveteousness, unforgiveness, selfishness and negativity that people and demons tried to deposit in his bank account and the valid currencies of good things that his mind was filled with. He was ready to go and enjoy the eternal benefits that God had prepared for the fight of faith that he had fought in Jesus name. 


What are you waiting for, learn to take things positively by meditating and speaking only good things in your wonderful life that God has given you as a gift! 


Blessings,

Abraham Israel

www.apsotolicrevelation.blogspot.com

A Heavenly Phone Diary

A Handy Reference List Of Emergency Phone Numbers:

Problems	Call:
When in sorrow	John 14; 2 Cor 1:3-4; Isa 66:13
When men fail you	Psalm 27; Isa 49:15
When you have sinned	Psalm 51; 32:5-6; 1John 1:7-10;
When you worry	Matthew 6:19-34; Phil 4:6-7
When you are in danger	Psalm 91; 2 Tim 4:18
When God seems far away	Psalm 139; Heb 13:5-6
When your faith needs stirring	Hebrews 11; Rom 12:3; 10:17; Matt 17:19-21
When you are lonely and fearful	Psalm 23; Isaiah 43:1-2
When you grow bitter and critical	I Corinthians 13; Matt 7:1-5; 5:7; 1 Cor 11:31-32
When you feel down and out	Romans 8:31; Psa 62:6; 16:8
When you want peace and rest	Matthew 11:25-30; Phil 4:6-7; Isa 26:3; 54:13
When the world seems bigger than God	Psalm 90; 1 John 4:4
When you want Christian assurance	Romans 8:1-30; Heb 13:5-6; John 6:37
When you leave home for work or travel	Psalm 121; 91; Deut 28:6
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish	Psalm 67; James 4:3; Phil 2:3-4
When you want courage for a task	Joshua 1; Zech 4:6-10; 2 Chron 16:9; 20:14-22
When you think of investments and returns	Mark 10; 1 Cor 15:58; Gal 6:9-10
If you are depressed	Psalm 27; Phil 4:4; 2 Cor 7:6; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psa 147:3; Isa 49:14-16; 53:5; Deut 31:8
If your purse is nearly empty	Psalm 37; Phil 4:19; Eph 3:20; 2 Cor 9:8
If you are losing confidence in people	I Corinthians 13; Eph 4:26-27, 32; 5:2;
If people seem unkind	John 15; Matt 5:38-48
If you are discouraged about your work	Psalm 126; 75:6-7; Col 3:23-24
If selfishness and pride takes hold	Psalm 19; Matt 5:3; James 4:6-7
If you want to be fruitful	John 15; 2 Peter 1:1-8
For understanding of Christianity	II Corinthians 5:15-21; Mark 10:42-45
For a great confidence about your own future	Jer 29:11; Deut 28:1-14; Joshua 1:3-9
For how to get along with fellow men	Romans 12; Phil 2:3, 5; Col 3:12-14
For Paul's secret to happiness	Colossians 3:12-17; Phil 4:4, 11-13
ALTERNATE NUMBERS:
For dealing with fear	Psalm 34:7; 56:3
For security	Psalm 121:3; Zec 2:5
For assurance	Mark 8:35; Rom 8:37
For reassurance	Psalm 145:18; 2 Cor 2:14
PLEASE NOTE: Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day!

Tidbit Buffet

"Another Year is Dawning"

It is always challenging to approach a new year and to realize anew that our days upon this earth are so rapidly passing. How important it is that we pause with the psalmist and pray for a "heart of wisdom" that will enable us this year to live each new day in a way that brings all glory to our God.

In January of 1874, the many friends of Frances Ridley Havergal received a New Year's greeting with the heading, "A Happy New Year! Ever Such May it Be!" Following this greeting appeared her text, still considered to be one of the finest New Year's prayers of consecration ever written:

Another year is dawning, Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting another year with Thee;

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;

Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year of dawning, Dear Father, let it be,

On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee. Amen.

One can well imagine that those who received this greeting card from Miss Havergal that year read her words thoughtfully. They were written by one who had already become widely known throughout England as "the consecration poet." It was said of her that she always lived her words before she wrote them. Her life was one of constant and complete commitment to God. 

Her many talents-an accomplished pianist and vocalist, proficiency in seven languages, a keen mind (memorization of the entire New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets)-were all dedicated to serving God and others during the New Year. May that be our challenge for this New Year as well!

-Selected

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"Looking unto Jesus"

Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, "Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow." His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. 

When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. "How did you get your path so true?" asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. "Why," said the other boy, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course." This is a perfect picture of the Christian life. If we fix the eyes of our hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ, and keep them continually fastened thereon, we will at last land at the desired haven, with flowers of victory.

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"Seven Brothers"

Seven unmarried brothers lived together in a large house. Six went out to work each day but one stayed home. He had the place all lit up when the other six arrived home from work. He also had the house warm, and most importantly, had a delicious, full-course dinner ready for his hungry brothers.

One day the six brothers decided that the one that had been staying home should go to work. "It's not fair," they said, "for the one to stay home while the others slaved at a job." So they made the seventh brother find work too. But when they all came the first night, there was no light, nor was there any warmth, and worst of all, there was no hearty dinner awaiting them. And the next night the same thing: darkness, cold, hunger. They soon went back to their  former arrangement.

It's the day of rest and worship that keeps the other six bright, warm and nourishing. When we desecrate the Lord's Day, we only hurt ourselves.

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"Abundant Fruitfulness"

"He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit"(John 15:5).

There is in the Vine such fullness, the care of the divine Husband-man is so sure of success, that the much fruit is not a demand but the simple promise of what must come to the branch that lives in the double abiding-he in Christ, and Christ in him. "The same bringeth forth much fruit." It is certain.

Have you ever noticed the difference in the Christian life between work and fruit? A machine can do work: only life can bear more fruit. A law can compel work: only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. Work implies effort and labor: the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent natural restful produce of our inner life.

The gardener may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and the pruning it needs; he can do nothing to produce the apple: the tree bears its own fruit. So in the Christian life: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." The healthy life bears much fruit: The connection between work and fruit is perhaps best seen in the expression "fruitful in every good work" (Colossians 1:10). It is only when good works come as the fruit of the indwelling Spirit that they are acceptable to God.

Under the compulsion of law and conscience, or the influence of inclination and zeal, men may be most diligent in good works, and yet find that they have but little spiritual result. There can be no reason but this-their works are man's effort, instead of being the fruit of the Spirit, the restful, natural outcome of the spirit's operation within us.

Let all workers come and listen to our holy Vine as He reveals the law of sure and abundant fruitfulness: "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." The gardener cares for one thing-the strength and healthy life of his tree: the fruit follows of itself. If you would bear fruit, see that the inner life is perfectly right, that your relation to Christ Jesus is clear and close.

- Andrew Murray

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This excerpt is taken from the Christ is Victor newsletter which is produced six times per year by the Laymen's Evangelical Fellowship International. To Subscribe this and receive this bimonthly E-Magazine visit the following link : www.lefi.org