Power Belongeth to God

Dear Beloved :--At this time I do not desire to refer specially to the vain self-sufficiency of the worldly-wise, nor to the cold reasoning of those devoted to philosophy. But there is a dangerous tendency even in the hearts of christians, to follow reason too much; making explanations too bold, and placing too much stress on human ability.

Man's ability is small. Indeed, he is helpless. But the power or ability of God, and what God does, is immense and glorious. Something of this wonderful power of God appears from this consideration of Bible truth.

It is by the power of God that "all things consist." By the power of God, man exists naturally, and by the power of God's Spirit the same man is regenerated, renewed, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, or born again. Man's first preparation of heart is accomplished not by human works or ability, but "by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, through Christ Jesus our Lord." And God does not forsake his people after their regeneration but still prepares their heart and inclines their will to obey him. He "worketh in you both to will and to do." "The preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." God takes away the stony heart" and gives a "heart of flesh," or tender heart. Faith is the gift of God. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him but also in suffer for His sake." Repentance is wrought in the heart or given by the power of God. "Jesus is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of Sins to Israel." Praise the Lord! Jesus gave remission of sins, He gives repentance, He gives faith, and He gives eternal life. God has wrought all our works in us. Let us ever praise Him, and trust in Him. We should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead · "who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us"

Dear lovers of Jesus, it is by the power of God that we are sweetly inclined to love and obey Him. "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us." Let us then, dear brethren magnify the Lord and give Him all the praise. O beloved, as Jesus leads us in paths of righteousness, let us "mortify the deeds of the body." Let us "crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts," and love and obey our dear Redeemer evermore. May God enable us to sweetly abide in His love.

O give thanks unto God and obey and glorify Him with fear and trembling, "For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

The Lord enables me sometimes, I hope, to feel my unworthiness and ignorance, and to trust in His worthiness and wisdom. Sometimes God works in me the power to feel that I am utterly helpless, and that "power belongeth unto God." Thus I am humbled and God is exalted. Then I am constrained to pray unto Him, to humbly obey Him, and sweetly enjoy His love.

Sometimes Jesus looks upon me, I trust, and enables me to weep bitterly because my sins have pierced Him who was bruised for my iniquities and by whose stripes I am healed. Sometimes God causes me to approach unto him; and then gives me rest. Paul could do all things through Christ which strengthened him; yet he tells us that "Ye cannot do the things that ye would." But "thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.''

Yours in tender love with faith in the power of God,

Nolanville, Tex.       M.D. DENMAN.