chapters of Acts. How he lifted up the Saviour with a new dynamic in witnessing. Those who heard these things "were pricked in their hearts." They wanted to know what to do to find the Lord. What con viction was brought to their souls through these humble instruments. Is this true of our lives, too? It can be! We need this holy boldness to witness for Christ. It comes about when we allow the Holy Spirit to have control, producing in us what He wants to do (John 14:12). Is everything in your life simply ac countable to human experiences, power and wisdom? The Lord wants us to know His empower ment (John 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit either works through us in blessing to others or He has to work on us. The tragedy is that too many people have the Holy Spirit on them in conviction instead of through them in control. In Ephesians 5 God says that a result of the Spirit's fullness in our lives will be a heart filled with melody (vrs. 18 ,19). Do you ever sing in your heart? What I like to do is to fix a Gospel melody in my mind, and then go over it again and again in my thinking. This is a wonderful practice, and it is sure to lift you out of the doldrums. It is sad to see all the murmuring that goes on. If we would just turn that into music it would make a world of difference. When the children of Israel were going through the wil derness, they murmured about ev erything, including God. What a sorry state to be in: No joy, no peace, no love. Music can ring the changes for you. In everything we are to give thanks. Page 19
PRAISE AND GLORY One of the important proofs of a Spirit-controlled Christian is that he praises and brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture re minds us that in all things "He is to have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). He is to be exalted above all else (Philippians 2:9, 10). This is one of the greatest secrets to Chris tianity. What we really need is tru ly to fall in love with Jesus. This is not just some superficial, external attachment, but a love which con trols and pervades our entire lives! It was said of the church at Ephe sus that although they had all the proper doctrine and discipline they had left their first love. What a tragic picture this is of the church of Jesus Christ today. What we really need is to be truly in love with Him. It is one of the primary proofs that we have been saved and that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives. POWER IN WITNESSING Acts 1:8 shows us that a third proof of a Spirit-controlled Chris tian is power in witnessing. Notice that this comes after the Holy Ghost has taken up His residency within us. II Timothy reminds us that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Consider the case of Peter who had been such a difficult person in many ways before the crucifix ion. He often walked in the flesh, and ultimately he denied the Lord. But, when the Holy Spirit came upon him at the Day of Pentecost, we see someone who had a unique boldness to preach the Gospel (Acts 4:12). Read his powerful ser mons recorded in the first few
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