Unlimited Power For Us continued
ful that they could not possibly do such work. Here is the answer— God. “ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Five times in this verse we have the word “ all” (or its equivalent)— “ all grace,” “ all occasions,” “ all sufficiency,” “ all th ings,” “ all works.” The grace of God is the unmerited complement of human need. Grace, it has been said, is the word which is foreign in every lan guage for it comes not from another land, but from another world. It is that goodness which can only be seen in a loving Father in heaven. God is not only able to give me grace for each day, but to vary that grace that it may meet the need of the moment. Our ability may know lapses, our virtue may fade; but God’s grace is sufficient for our serv ice at any time and for all time. God has given us the whole Bible, “ That the man of God be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17). Or as James (1:4) puts it: “ . . . that we may be perfect and entire, wanting noth ing.” This means nothing less than a unified character resulting in out and out service. In the parable of the pounds each servant received one pound. Only one made ten pounds although each was able to do so. There are rare and excep tional saints, but it is not God’s design that saintly people should be few. “ Every man perfect in Christ” (Col. 1:28) is the will of God. So God has given to every child of His “ all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). So we can say with Paul: “ I can do all things th r ough Chr i st wh i c h strengthened! me” (Phil. 4:13). Whatever good work there is in the world is in line with the purpose of God. Hence He can enable us to do it. While we have God there can be no limitations — except our faith.
Frederick Douglas, the great slave orator, was speaking at a time when things looked very dark for his race. In a melancholy tone he exclaimed: “ The white man is against us, gov ernments are against us. I see no hope for the colored race. I am full
how you live this victorious life about which you have been preach ing; tell us your experience.” With great hesitation Bonar replied: “ I do not like to speak about myself; but for 50 years I have had access to the Throne of Grace.” David Brainerd resolved to carry the gospel to a savage tribe of In dians away in the forest. He ap proached the principal village of the tribe, but tarried awhile to plead with God for His blessing. A party of Indians, intending to kill him, waited for him to come out, but Brainerd continued long in prayer. Becoming impatient, they drew near and cautiously peering through the opening they saw him on his knees. Just then, a great rattlesnake slow ly pushed its ugly head under the tent, and crawling over Brainerd’s feet, reared itself parallel to the kneeling man’s back as if to strike its fangs into his neck. Suddenly it drew back as if God forbade the murderous attempt, and glided out at the opposite side from which it had entered. The Indians were amazed and went and told their c omrade s what had happened . Brainerd was so absorbed in prayer that he was unconscious of the vis its of either the snake or the savages who had intended to destroy him. He seemed to hear God say: “ My presence shall go with thee.” At length he took his Bible and went toward the village. The men were ready to trust in Christ. “ All things” can be made our servant. All enemies can be sub dued to our will. Boundless possi bilities of service can open before us. The Serpent himself can leave us untouched. It all depends on the one condition—that each of us is the kneeling figure. The promises of God will always hold good. He is holy and therefore He can never deceive us. He has promised us that He is able to do great things for us and in us. What He says is: “ Only believe.” Then shall nothing be impossible to you.
‘Peter— a rock,” he said. No rock, but shifting sand am I Who, craven coward, must deny A ll knowledge of the Man. Now in the streaking dawn M y thoughts in ceaseless tumult cry. The dream is ended. W e must fly To save ourselves, who can. Footsteps— no martial tread To seek us out, but urgent feet Resounding through the empty street,
And women’s voices call. Risen? I dare not hope.
They speak of angels— I must see. Run swiftly. Can this great thing be, M y God, my Lord, m y A ll?
— Nancy Hi. Bettesworth
of sadness.” Immediately a poor old colored woman in the audience rose and said: “ Frederick, is God dead?” The question electrified the people and they broke forth in songs of praise, glorifying God. God is able, but how are we to benefit? One day, in the midst of a service conducted at Northfield by the saintly Dr. Andrew Bonar, Moody said impulsively: “Dr. Bo nar, these people would like to know
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