Published in the Pentecostal Evangel, April 26, 1941.

Read 1 John 3:1-10.

God does not dwell in temples made by hands but in poor and contrite hearts. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. The Church is the body of Christ, its worship is a heart worship, a longing to come into the Presence of God. He wants us to come to a place of undisturbed rest and peace; only simplicity will bring us there. Jesus said, when He uplifted the baby, “Except you become as little children, you shall in no wise enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” It is not to have the child’s mind, but the child’s spirit—meekness, gentleness; it is the only place to meet God. He will give us that place of worship.

How my heart cries out for a deep vision of God. The world cannot produce it. A place where we see the Lord—that when we pray, we know God hears. Asking God and believing for the answer, having no fear but a living faith to come into the Presence of God. “In His Presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore.” God is looking for a people in whom He can reveal Himself.

I used to have a tremendous temper, going white with passion. My whole nature was outside God that way. God knew His child could never be of service to the world unless he was wholly sanctified. I was difficult to please at the table. My wife was a good cook, but there was always something wrong. After God sanctified me, however, I heard her testify in a meeting that from that time I was pleased with everything. I had men working for me. I wanted to be a good testimony to them. One day they waited after work was over and said, “We would like that spirit you have.” It is our human spirit that has to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. There is a place where Christ reigns in the body, then all is well.

This word is full of stimulation—brought by faith into a place of grace where all may see us made anew. If you believe, you can be sons of God—in likeness, character, spirit, longings, acts, until all will know you are a son of God. The Spirit of God can change our nature. God is Creator. His Word is creative, and as you believe, a creative power is changing your whole nature. You can reach this altitude only by faith. No man can keep himself. The God of almightiness spreads His covering over you, saying, “I am able to do all things; and all things are possible to him that believeth.”

The old nature is so difficult to manage. You have been ashamed of it many a time, but the Lord Himself will come. He says, “Come unto Me, and I will give thee rest, peace, strength. I will change you, I will operate upon you by My power making you a new creation, if you will believe.”

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. “Learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” The world has no rest, it is full of trouble; but in Him is peace which passeth understanding, with an inward flow of divine power changing your nature until you can live, move and act in the power of God.

“Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew Him not.” What does it mean? I have lived in one house over fifty years. I have preached from my own doorstep, and all around know me. They know. me when they need someone to pray, when there is trouble, when they need help. But at Christmas time, when they call their friends, would they call me? No! Why? They would say, “He is sure to want a prayer meeting, but we want to finish up with a dance.”

Wherever Jesus came sin was revealed and men don’t like sin revealed. Sin, separates from God for ever. You are in a good place when you weep before God, repenting over the least thing. If you have spoken unkindly, you realize it was not like the Lord. Your keen conscience has taken you to prayer. It is a wonderful thing to have a keen conscience. It is when we are close to God that our hearts are revealed. God intends us to live in purity—seeing Him all the time.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is; and everyone that hath this hope purifieth himself even as He is pure.” It is the hope of the Church, the Bridegroom coming for the bride. He has suffered for us, been buried for us, risen for us, is jealous for us. How we should love Him! He is coming again and He wants us to be ready.

When I am leaving anywhere by train or ship, people come to see me off, and I preach to them. The Captain hears, the stewards hear. “Oh,” they said, “another on board!” The world thinks there is something wrong with you if you are full of zeal for God.

A young man came and asked me to take part in a sweepstake. I said, “I am preaching on Sunday—would you come if I did?” He said, “No.” Later, there was an entertainment. I said I would take a part. It was the strangest thing for me. I said I would sing. I saw men dressed as clergy entertaining the people with foolishness. I was troubled. I cried to God. Then came my turn just before the dance. A young woman came to take my book—she was half dressed. She said, “I cannot play that.” I said, “Never worry.” I sang, “Oh, if I could only tell you how I love Him, I am sure that you would make Him yours today.” There was no dance! They began weeping, and six young men gave their hearts to God in my cabin.

The world does not know us, but we are sons of God with power. No man that sins has power. Sin makes a man weak. Remember this—sin dethrones, but purity strengthens. Temptation is not sin; but the devil is a liar and tries to take away our peace. You must live in the Word of God. There is now no condemnation. Who is he that can condemn you? Christ has died. He won’t condemn you. He died to save you. Don’t condemn yourself. If there is anything wrong, come to the Blood. “If we walk in the light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. You can come into a new experience of God where God creates in our hearts such a love for Jesus that we are living in a new realm—Sons of God with power, filled with all the fullness of God.

Before leaving home I received a wire—would I go to Liverpool. There was a woman with cancer and gall stones. If I know God is sending me, my faith rises. The woman said, “I have no hope.” God said to me, “Establish her in the fact of the New Birth.” When she had the assurance that her sin was gone and she was born again, she said, “That is everything to me. Cancer is nothing now I have Jesus.” The battle was won. God delivered her and she was free and soon up and dressed, and happy in Jesus. Life and immortality are ours in the Gospel. This is our inheritance through the blood of Jesus—life for evermore. Believe and the Lord will transmit life through you, that you may be waiting for His coming and witnessing unto Him.

Labels: 1941, Pentecostal Evangel