Amen!
Em qua., 19 de jan. de 2022 22:30, mike mcinnis <ratmotor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
escreveu:
Greetings sis Reis, et al;
The testimony of mr Hawker rings true to my soul. How glorious are the
operations of HIS SPIRIT in the sons of GOD. We find ourselves weak and
beggarly, disobedient, and unthankful in our best estate. Yet HE is
pleased to remind us that it is not by works of righteousness that we have
done but by HIS own mercy HE saved us, and does presently cause us to groan
within ourselves. We have no power of our own but cry out to HIM daily,
and HE is ever faithful to supply every need that we have, even before we
think or ask. The hope of the resurrection of these vile bodies is a
great comfort and our doubts and fears concerning the impending death of
these houses of clay, is allayed when we are caused to remember that HE is
the FIRST FRUITS of them that sleep. HIS resurrection assures us of our
own. Even so come LORD JESUS.
Blessings, mike
On 1/19/2022 2:23 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit the redemption of our body." Romans 8:23 *
*It is blessed to receive from the Holy Ghost such gracious
interpretations of his own most holy word as bear a correspondence with
what we feel in a life of grace. We know that our adorable Jesus is the
Saviour of the body as well as the soul; but we know also that these vile
bodies of ours are not regenerated, as the souls of his redeemed are. In
this tabernacle, therefore, we groan, being burdened. "I know," saith Paul,
"that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." And I too often
know, to my sorrow, the same. *
*Pause, my soul, this evening, over this solemn scripture, and look up to
the great author of it, to unfold its sacred truth to thy comfort. I hope I
can humbly adopt the language, and say, that I "have the first fruits of
the Spirit." I know what it is to enjoy the first dawnings and readings of
grace. I know what it is to have been once afar off, living without God and
Christ in the world, an enemy to God by wicked works. And I know what it is
to have been brought nigh by the blood of Christ Jesus, by his Holy Spirit,
hath come nigh to me, and brought my soul nigh to God. *
*I know also what it is at times to have sweet seasons of communion. I am
as sensible of the reviving, comforting, strengthening, refreshing graces
of the Spirit, as the earth is of the falling showers, or the sweet return
of light. I know no less what it is to have an enlargement of soul, in the,
going forth of the exercises of faith and grace upon the person and work of
the Lord Jesus. When the Redeemer is pleased to call forth into lively
actings upon himself the graces he hath planted, I can then find a blessed
season in contemplating his glories, his beauties, his fulness, his
suitableness, and all-sufficiency. I then sit down as the church of old
did, "under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit is sweet to my
taste." The Lord hath then "brought me into his banqueting house," and my
whole soul, under his banner of love, is delighted in fatness. *
*But amidst these "first fruits of the Spirit," these blessed earnests and
pledges of the glory that shall be revealed, I know no less also what it is
to groan within myself, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of
my poor polluted, sinful body. I find this partner of my heart, this
earthly half of myself, at times the greatest opposer of my better
dispositions. "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit;" the soul is
straitened, shut up, so as to say nothing, and do nothing, when appearing
before the Lord. I dare not neglect prayer; I dare not absent myself from
going to court! The king will know and and mark my neglect. But if I go, I
am cold, dead, lifeless: I hear as though I heard not; I pray as though I
prayed not. Can I do otherwise than groan? Can I help at times being deeply
affected, although I have the first fruits of the Spirit?" *
*Lord Jesus, undertake for me, and let all the sanctified blessings,
intended by thy love and wisdom to be derived from these painful exercises
of the soul, be accomplished. Let this thorn in the flesh make me humble:
root out the very existence of spiritual pride; reconcile my whole heart to
the humiliation of the grave; and, above all, endear thee, thou precious
Immanuel, the Lord our righteousness, more and more to my affections, since
it, is thou, and thou alone, that canst be our peace here and our salvation
for ever! *
*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) *
