ing beneath the stones and hear ing the mob cursing him. His face shone with glory like that of an angel. His dying lips offered a lov ing prayer for the forgiveness of his murderers. When Paul was driv en out of one city, he was stripped by robbers and yet testified, "Re joice evermore, and again I say rejoice." The Apostle looked past his problems to see the risen Lord. This marvelous legacy of Christ is climaxed by the promise of a supernatural peace. In each case it remains for us to appropriate the promise. We have a supernatural Helper but we must yield to His power. We have a supernatural life but we must live such an existence. We have a supernatural union but we must uphold that with com munion. We have a supernatural Teacher but we must be willing to learn from Him. We have a super natural peace but we must exer cise that gift. The legacy is all ours. It is now up to us to appropriate these abundant blessings. John MacArthur is a graduate of Talbot Seminary and presently pastor of Grace Community Church in Panorama City, Cal ifornia.
world. Such is only based on super ficial things. The New York Times reports that there has been 53 wars in the last 17 years with 21 of them fair size. Since 36 B.C., 14,553 wars have occurred with only one out of every 19 years even relatively without trouble. Before World War II there were 2.61 new wars every year. Since that time the rate has gone up to three new wars every year. The Times concluded that peace is nothing more than a fable. The reason men cannot know real peace is because, as Scripture tes tified, the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Escape from reality, no matter what the means may be, will never give any lasting satisfac tion. No, Jesus gives peace that is not like the world's peace. With all the promises we have received, with the indwelling Holy Spirit having entered into a super natural union with Cod the Father, think of the tremendous legacy which belongs to us. Why should we be troubled and afraid? We ought to be as patient as Jesus was to see the Father's will expressed in every trial. Look at Stephen sink
Page 54
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker