interest in securing our future ex tended even beyond the cross! It be came manifestly evident in the send ing of the Holy Spirit to reside within us, and to fortify us in all of our trials and temptations. Only as we pray does He pray! There are times in our lives when we cannot pray, such as illness, acci dents, injury, or death. In such mo ments, the Holy Spirit does take over, but He prefers to do so as we co-operate in prayer. Two infirmities impede our prayer- life, namely ignorance, and inexpres- sibility. “We know not what we should pray for as we ought” (v. 26). There will come times in our lives when the will of God is not en tirely clear. We must yield our selves afresh to the Holy Spirit and permit Him to take over. At other times, our burden will become so great that we cannot express it! Again, the Holy Spirit must take over, perfecting His and our minis try of prayer. Prayer is not a posi tion, but a disposition; not a latitude, but an attitude; not a place to get rid of a burden, but a place to get one; not a flight from reality, but a fight against principalities and pow ers, a place where our strength be comes weakness, and our weakness becomes strength. The secret of the Spirit’s effec tiveness in intercession resides in His omniscience. He not only knows our deepest yearnings, but He also knows the will of God. It is His pur pose to join the two. Don’t forget that your case is committed to an all-wise Advocate, who knows the heart of God as well as He knows your own. Thus we ac tually have two Advocates pleading our case. This is an unbeatable com bination. The Holy Spirit shares our longings for Heaven and Home. In fact, He implanted them in our hearts. Why not permit Him a larg er measure of your life and heart’s devotion?
THE FATHER’S PURPOSE
A study of Romans 8:28-31 by A rv id Carlson
A s we approach this wonderful portion of Scripture (Romans 8:28-31), we are indeed on high and holy ground. We see here the provi dence of our Heavenly Father. Paul says that it inspires our confidence (v. 28). Knowledge must be founded on facts. We have the great evi dences of the trustworthiness of God’s character, the infallibility of God’s Word, and the experiences of His children. Saints in all ages have proved, to their perfect satisfaction, the reliability of God’s promises and purposes. It’s not good for the Chris tian to always enjoy favorable cir cumstances. For one thing, it spoils us for heavey; and for another, it subtracts from our character. It takes storms and adversity to pro duce what God intends us to be. This providence of God expresses itself in continuity. This “working” is as constant as the law of gravity. I t’s in the present progressive tense. God’s work of creation has never ceased. This providence produces “congruity.” Our Lord is a God of order and of design! There are no misfirings of His purposes! Obviously the word “good” must include more than its simple diction ary definition. It is not necessarily a “pleasant good,” nor is it promised to us immediately. God is primarily interested in the “end product.” Wil liam Cowper was a man of deep 9
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