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Witness of Praise

All the people saw him walking and praising God. (Acts 3:9)

n the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk and he leapt. Simple in its terms, but very, very drastic and very utter in its action. Immediately the man in himself knew the glory of God. He, leaping up, praised and glorified God. He had got it in his own heart, in his own soul. He knew he was changed, he was in the good of God rest.... This man was a testimony which was the answer to every argument. Seeing the man there in the midst whole, they had to shut their mouths. There was no argument. It is all argument if it is doctrine, theory, teaching, interpretation of truth, but a living witness you cannot argue against that. Your mouth is shut when you have a living person standing there right in the good of things. Are we closing the mouths of people? We shall not do it by the truth that we hold, teach, interpret, but we can do it by what we are, by being in possession of the goods. Are we that? Are you that? Are you going to be that? A real answer to every argument so that people say, ell, look here, it is not the teaching they have taken on, the associations they have made: no, no, look at them; you know what they were, you know how little they counted, you know what cripples they were spiritually, you know what liabilities they were, you know how much they were without rest: but look now; they have the goods, they are in the good of things, they are counting, they mean something, and they are in rest, they are in joy, they are in satisfaction, they themselves are changed!What can you say to that? You cannot say anything to that if you are going to be honest.

Oh, dear friends, we are not to go out to try and pass over some teaching, some truth, to people. That will never convince. You and I are to be here as those who in themselves convince others because we embody His rest, we embody His peace, we embody His strength, and we count for something. We are responsible people, we are positive factors, we are assets, and the Lord is getting something by reason of us. That is how it must be. Is it like that? All this can be if we will go the way of this man, and say, es, this has gone on long enough and it has to end, and to end, so far as my giving diligence is concerned, at once, and I do most truly by the grace of God take a deliberate and definite faith attitude toward the Lord Jesus for my complete deliverance and the setting of me upon my feet for His glory, for His praise!I think there will be an issue, and I think it will be e, leaping up, stood upon his feet, praising and glorifying God.May it be so with every one of us.

The glory which You gave Me I have given them.

I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim … And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” § These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. § On the likeness of the throne was a likeness … of a man high above it … Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

“Please, show me Your glory.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” § No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. § God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 17:22;  Isa. 6:1;  Isa. 6:2;  Isa. 6:3;  John 12:41;  Ezek. 1:26,28;  Ex. 33:18,20;  John 1:18;  2 Cor. 4:6

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

She took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. § Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil.

Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

None of us lives to himself. § You, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. § Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak … When you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Prov. 1:10;  Gen. 3:6;  Josh. 22:20;  Ex. 23:2;  Matt. 7:13;  Rom. 14:7;  Gal. 5:13;  1 Cor. 8:9,  1 Cor. 8:12;  Isa. 53:6

Personalization

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31).

There should be a progression in one's faith from objective facts about the Lord Jesus to personal fellowship with Him.

"It is sad to see the Lord's people, even many who pass for spiritual, who have very little concern about the Lord Jesus Himself. They can talk much about His work, but show very clearly that the Person of the Lord Jesus has never really won their hearts. They could not truly say, Yes, He is altogether lovely.' They are interested in His work because that is for them - there is the selfish element in it. But to find in the Lord Jesus Christ what the Father saw in Him when He said, This is My Beloved Son in whom is all my delight,' this place in the purposes of the Father all too few seem to have found."

"It is a proof of immense favor from the Father if in our heart's estimation the Lord Jesus is fairer than the children of men.' It is easy to sing hymns, and to use the most precious expressions in Scripture in a sentimental way, but it is another thing for our hearts really to find rest and satisfaction in the moral perfections of the Lord Jesus." -C.A.C.

"The Lord Jesus Christ is the only object for faith, the only One that satisfies us, as indeed He is the Father's object; and if we have got but one mind with the Father about Him, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." -W.K.

"If you are walking in the Spirit, the Lord Jesus is the Object before you; when you are walking in the flesh, yourself is your object." -W.K.

"Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).

Christ Crucified

A Rightly Divided Heavens