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Deep Roots - Secure Grounding

And the remnant... shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. (Isaiah 37:31)

The Lord must have something which cannot be carried away, which cannot be removed, cannot be shaken, and certainly something which cannot be rooted up. That is His remnant. That, He must have for His own glory, and, that being so, He will take every measure with His remnant to have them after that kind, with roots downward. Of course, unto fruit upward. We speak much about the upward side of things, life in the heavenlies, sitting in the heavenlies, and our warfare and work the fruitfulness of our life in union with the Lord. That is only possible as our roots are downward. In order that that might be so, we have to get into a place of unshakeableness where the roots have got such a grip that nothing can overthrow. And I believe that explains a very great deal of what the Lord is doing with His own spiritual people in these days.

It is true that the true children of God are going through a time of intense trial and testing spiritually in these days; everywhere it is so. Why? Because the Lord must have something against which hell is impotent and by which He demonstrates to the universe that strength of His might which causes to stand and withstand, and having done all to stand. If one were asked what the last issue for the Church in this age is, I would say that it stands, and that is saying a tremendous thing. Oh, you say, that is surely limiting things, are you not expecting much more than that? Progress, advance, sweeping movements? The Church will have all its work cut out in the end to stand, but its standing will be its victory. Just to be able, through testing, trial, when everything is blowing round you like a blizzard; when everything is dark, mysterious, and even God seems far away and unreal, and faith is tested and you are being assailed on the right hand and on the left, and there is every reason outwardly for your moving, giving up, falling down, surrendering, lowering your standard, just to stand and not be moved in your faith is the greatest possible victory.... We are passing through deep experiences, the enemy is doing it and the Lord is not preventing him, but we are coming to a fuller knowledge of the power of our God and a deeper rooting beyond all previous shakeableness. And the Lord is seeking to have a people who cannot be shaken, against whom hell with all its demonstration of arrogance and pride, is impotent. i>And the remnant... shall again take root downward.That is what the Lord needs.

We who have believed do enter that rest.

They weary themselves to commit iniquity. § I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. § Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

He who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works. § Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. § “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and, “this is the refreshing.”

Heb. 4:3;  Jer. 9:5;  Rom. 7:23,24;  Matt. 11:28;  Rom. 5:1,2;  Heb. 4:10;  Phil. 3:9;  Isa. 28:12

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? They rebelled against His Spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

A whisperer separates the best of friends. § There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. § No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. § Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language … Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. § For this is the will of God, your sanctification. § In their mouth was found no deceit.

Ps. 141:3;  Ps. 130:3;  Ps. 106:33;  Matt. 15:11;  Prov. 16:28;  Prov. 12:18; Prov 12:19;  James 3:8; James 3:10;  Col. 3:8,9;  1 Thess. 4:3;  Rev. 14:5

Love Draws And Conforms

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jer. 31:3).

God is the first and only Cause. He always makes the first move. "For God so loved. . . that He gave"; "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you" (John 3:16; 15:16). Even the hunger of the heart necessary for our response to His love comes from Him. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus" (I Pet. 5:10). He brought us to His Son; He will make us like His Son.

"If you feel the drawing of God within, cherish it as you would cherish a great treasure. If you are aware of a deep hunger, if you are entering into a closer walk with Him, do not look upon it carelessly, nor treat it lightly. But if you do not feel the divine drawing and hunger for God, cry to Him that He will give it you; and ever remember that the desire for hunger is the beginning of hunger, and that you cannot feed upon the Lord Jesus Christ until you are spiritually hungry." -H. McI.

"Our Lord is generous in His provision, but He is neither casual nor wasteful. There must be a real hunger and felt need. It is a fixed principle with the Lord that He does not move until something like desperation makes it evident that it is His move." -T. A-S.

"No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me" (John 6:44, Amp.).

Amazing Love (Easter Reflections - (5)

Loving Trust and Trusting Love