1. To attain and retain the deepest and fullest possible Enduement of Power.
Jno. 10:10, 7:28; Acts 1:8; Rom. 15:19; Col. 1:29; 2 Pet. 1:3.
This enduement of power Divine is clothing one with the life of Jesus Christ. He came that it might flow out of us in rivers of living water, the Holy Spirit coming upon us. In it are all things pertaining to life and godliness. It
is that Living Word who became flesh, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, become a life-giving Spirit and
come to dwell in us.
Greater than all gifts of God, it is our Lord Himself come to make His abode with man; pervading
his whole being and surrounding him, a cloud, a wall of fire. Sometimes visible
over an assembly as a blue haze, pervading the entire place and sometimes the whole community.
In that life which is the light of men, is the fullness of Him who filleth all.
It is the creative power of Elohim, recreating and imparting all gifts, grace and glory.
It was typified by the anointing oil and sweet incense of the tabernacle. The purest and most valuable of vegetable oils, that of the olive, compounded with choicest gums and spices;
of inexpressibly sweet perfume; of bitter and sweet flavor, representing the death and the life of Jesus in us.
Jesus’ body was the precious alabaster box, which when broken, filled the whole house
of God – the universe – with unutterably sweet perfume. Well might
one sell all to possess this pearl of greatest price. Oh, to abide ever under
this anointing, that its inexpressibly tender, sweet, unctuous, spicy fragrance of love and sorrow, mercy, gentleness, longsuffering,
forbearance, fellowship of intercession and travail be ours.
There is a secret path where Jesus comes and walks with the soul allured to walk with Him;
My soul, dwell thou there where He hides His beauty and sweetness from earth’s profane gaze.
2. Praise. Praise, adoration, worship,
homage are due Thee, O Thou who are greatly to be praised. Yet, oh, my poor earthly
spirit, however canst praise as is comely, except Thou my Lover and Savior come and influence my heart with Royal, Priestly
Perfumes of a love so rich and so infinitely free that all may drink and be satisfied therein.
Bow down, my heart, low before Him who became poor that I, so poor in grace, be rich with Him.
3. Prayer. “We will continue steadfast
in prayer.” “Night and day praying exceedingly.” “Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty [supplication]
on every fitting opportunity [crisis] in the Spirit: and be on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so with unwearied
persistence and entreaty in behalf of all God’s people.” “The [Divinely] energized prayer of a righteous
man avails very much.” Acts 6:4; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Jas. 5:16.
This Thy Spirit of prayer may be attained more fully and constantly deepened by patient continuance
therein. Then shalt arise to heights of Divine contemplation and fellowship,
and be used to bring down upon men power and blessing and deliverance. So great
are the blessings and privileges accorded thee, in this thou mayest excel and provoke to emulation. Be faithful and persevere therein and thou mayest become a prince with God and men. Few herein have excelled, for it is a hard cross to the flesh, yet infinite reward is therein obtained. Let no one and nothing hinder thee, for the enemy doth greatly oppose therein, for
such are they who tear down his kingdom and liberate those long held in his bondage.
Hallelujah! By prayer thou mayest prevail to obtain all whatsoever thy
soul desireth.
“In prayer a man may be attending to the words, and this is a thing of a wholly material
nature. He may be attending to the sense of the words, and this is rather study
than prayer. And lastly, his whole thoughts may be directed to God, and this
alone is true prayer. Arrived at this state the true believer forgets the world
and its wants. He has attained almost a foreshadow of celestial happiness. Words are not indeed indispensible to an act of prayer. When a man becomes truly rapt in the Spirit, an uttered prayer becomes rather an impediment.” –
Savonarola.
If Peter on the housetop and Paul in a trance knew not whether in the body or out of the
body; saints in the dim, dark ages prayed till caught away in an ecstasy or rapt in the Spirit, lost to this world and shut
in with God and scenes of the spiritual realm, may we not also say, “We are come to Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, angels,
God and Jesus?” Heb. 12:22.
4. Faith. Praise and prayer are the two
wings of faith whereby it rises to God. Therefore, by persistent praise and constant
prayer, and instant faith, heaven and earth are brought together and the mighty works of God spring forth.
5. Perfect Patience in all things you must have.
Perfect patience brings to perfect rest.
“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
“Through patience and faith inherit the promises.” “So after he had patiently endured he received the promise.” Jas. 1:3, 4; Heb. 6:12, 15.
6. Entire Devotion. “Daniel purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself.” “Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.”
“That with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord.” Wey.
“Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all.” Dan. 1:8, 3:18; Acts 11:23.
In all ages there have been those who became the bondslaves of Jesus Christ, confessed Him
their Lord; soldiers of unflinching loyalty to their King; with patience, meekness, humility, forgiveness to their persecutors,
and resignation to the will of God; “not accepting deliverance” through compromise. They bore all whatever was heaped upon them; giving thanks to God the Father for all things and rejoicing
that they were accounted worthy to suffer for His name. “They loved not
their lives to the death.”
7. Worship. To such of the true martyr
spirit, whether killed or not, being a peculiar treasure to God, He often granted an inward devotion of heart worship, adoration,
praise, reverence, till their inward being became a fervent flame of burning love to God.
In prayer they became rapt in the Spirit, enraptured with beholding, overcome in an ecstasy of bliss, the world faded
away and Heaven, with its King of hosts, came near. Transformed into the same
image, from glory to glory, growing up into Christ.
My soul, rejoice thou with joy unspeakable, for thou too, though most unworthy, art also
privileged to partake of the “glories that should follow.” For none
are so low or “afar off,” but may be brought nigh by the blood of Jesus.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Let
praise ever spring from lips so unworthy, yet so favored. There is much yet;
an open door before thee.
8. The cross of Christ. Such humility
and self-denial is found in the Divine being that “no man hath seen God at any time.” The fullness of the Godhead in Jesus was hidden beneath a cloak of flesh.
The Christ must be anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit before beginning His ministry. He declares, “The Son can do nothing of Himself.” So
the Son acted for and did the works the Father sent Him to do. He, by the sacrifice
of Himself, obtained the right to pour out the promise of the Father, but left the ministration of the Spirit to His disciples,
after He was in Heaven and invisible. He would not visibly conduct this dispensation.
The same wondrous humility and hiding of Himself is found in the Holy Spirit. He speaks not of Himself but magnifies the atoning blood and kingly glory of Jesus. He takes of the things of the Son which are the Father’s and show them unto us. The Spirit does not speak except through the lips of man, and promotes the work through man so that even
the heathen are unevangelized because the church has failed of her duty.
Our Lord Jesus has humbled Himself to dwell in temples of clay, restricted by the limitations
of weak man. In coming to me and promoting my welfare, the Spirit has shown more
reverence and respect to me than man ever could. He tells me to cry unto Him
day and night and He will speedily avenge His elect, though He have to exercise long patience till I attain that attitude
which permits His answering me.
With such an overwhelming exhibition of humility Divine, out I not gladly, patiently, faithfully,
and most humbly submit to all He might see fit to permit me to suffer? Surely
I should humble myself to deny all self-seeking and self-activity in thy service and in thy worship, insisting to act and
walk and live in the Spirit. Hesitate not to take up my cross daily. How could one think of doing less for whom Jesus bore the cross and despised the shame? Should not I likewise lay down my life for the brethren? All
the more reason I should bear the cross, since Christ crucified is Christ the power of God, and if I take the cross I shall
have the power.
Not by might, nor by power, but by a crucified Christ, is the world brought to God. Not by wisdom nor strength of man shall I prevail, but crucified with Christ, I shall
live, yet not I in myself but the life of Christ in me shall prevail over the flesh, the world, and the devil.
I shall thus gain the victory, and bearing always in my body a measure of the dying of the
Lord Jesus, His life through me shall be manifested for others. If I suffer with
Him I shall also reign with Him. If I bear in my body the sufferings, the marks
of the Lord Jesus, and through me Christ is touched with the feeling of the infirmities of the helpless, through me shall
deliverance also be wrought. If there be any bowels of mercies, any compassion,
any long-suffering, any sympathy for those afflicted to be found in me, then let the deep tides of His love flow through me
in intercessions, supplications, travail, and prevailing prayer for the downtrodden.
9. Crucifixion. The life of nature, the
self-life, is tenacious, but it should be subdued, broken, mellowed deep till it will absorb every drop of heavenly rain falling
upon it. Oh, that I may no longer live and act a separate life from His, but
by faith, in union with Him, till He will work in me. Insufficient to think anything
as I ought, as of myself, He becomes my wisdom, yea, my all in all. Oh, glorious
loss, to lose one’s life of self to find eternal life in union with Him!
Nature deeply and permanently crucified and living under the cross may abide in a permanent
deep, overflowing “anointing which abideth.” To this end the operations
of the Spirit in one appear to reach and crucify and recreate every character trait, purpose, plan, desire, and thought.
Therefore, Oh Lord, with ancient worthies let me give thanks to God the Father for all things. And as Thy strength is made perfect in weakness, “Most gladly therefore will
I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ’s sake, for then I am weak then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9.
10. Affections. Oh, for an unceasing,
deep flow of His boundless, universal love, compassion, sympathy, forbearance, longsuffering, patience, and forgiveness toward
all; deep contrition and a tender spirit, all harshness gone. If great grace
be upon me even as upon the disciples at first, then in me will be found richly to abound these affections of the Divine nature.
The heart and chest, seat of affections, filled with the fire of the Spirit, a lambent, flaming
glory, light and love; saturating and sensitizing with life and quivering feeling, making one comparable to an Aeolian harp,
placed where the breath of the Spirit in heavenly breezes ever brings forth heavenly melodies.
It makes one sense and feel the intent of words, actions, and thoughts, the heat and cold of all spiritual weathers
and atmospheres. How the blessed Christ must suffer with my coldness, lethargy,
sloth, and slowness of heart.
11. The Mind, marvelous Divine mechanism, captivated, subdued, stayed, cleansed, veiled,
renewed, recollected, covered with the “anointing that abideth.”
2 Cor. 10:2-6; Rom. 13:2; 1 John 2:20, 17.
These operations of this Divine anointing upon my mind have, because of its waywardness,
been hindered. Most earnestly do I plead, Oh, Lord, that these shall no more
fade away but thy power which settled like a cloud over my mind, stopping half formed or only begun useless and harmful thoughts,
may ever abide.
When serious questions of duty, practice or teaching were to be solved, how strongly that
Divine intuition, the gift of knowledge, has gripped my mind, as in a vice, allowing no variation in decision, but given with
an “I know” that was indisputable. How exceeding useful and indispensible
for all occasions, for when this gift is operative within, one is able to weigh all thoughts, activities, and words in this
Divine balance, and actually know. How otherwise can he walk continuously in
the Spirit, except this Divine “Know” abide? Oh, then, grant thou
me –
“Thine eye be single, thy whole body is full of light.” “If, therefore, your whole body is penetrated with light and has no part dark, it will be so lighted,
all of it.” “A spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
Him.” “That ye may know the riches of the glory of His inheritance.”
Lu. 11:33-36; Eph. 1:18-22; 1 Cor. 2:9.
12. Let my imagination, image-making power, be so subdued and transformed, thou canst
freely and clearly imprint thereon, in open vision, photographs of scenes, illustrations and instructions, discovering the
workings of Thy Spirit, evil spirits, men’s spirits, and nature.
And yet more, grant me also heavenly and Beatific visions of thyself and thy kingdom. For how can I preach Thee unless I see and know in deepest fellowship and union?
13. Perception. My sense and senses so
trained, quickened, and made spiritual that eyes may read the lights and shades of faces and, sometimes at east, catch a glimpse
of celestial sights and beings. Ears may catch the sharps and flats of humanity’s
notes; for the voice expresses the whole character. And tones too high or low
for earth voices may I sometimes sing and hear in heavenly cadences; also taste the sweetness of Jesus’ name and scent
His perfumes and other odors heavenly, as well as the presence of evil.
14. By instant faith overcome all things and obtain the continued transforming
power of the Spirit; “growing up into Christ in all things” and know Him in a living union.
Those things you ask for are yours; claim them; receive them; reckon them already yours. Believe that to be done which you do not see.
Rejoice in the possession of that which you do not realize.
RECAPITULATION.
1. Enduement of power. Exquisitely sweet
fragrance and grace of the Divine Presence. Evanescent perfumes. Delicate garments easily soil and fade. Burning incense unreplenished soon goes out. Rev. 2:5.
2. Praise exalts Jesus, turns away from self, brings the power.
3. Prayer must be unceasing, importune, in the Spirit by His revelations. Jude 20; Rom. 8:26, 27.
4. Faith. Instant faith, pressing, importune,
immediate, earnest, making no delay, quick.
5. Patience perfected is the way to be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
6. Entire Devotion. Self-abnegation. “Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all.”
7. Worship. Heart devotion given by the
Lord. Transformed whiled beholding.
8. Glory in the cross of Christ. Planted
in His likeness.
9. Degrees of crucifixion measure depth of anointing.
Divine strength perfected in human weakness.
10. Affections. Make my heart like Thine,
all aflame with love, grace, pity, tenderness, sympathy, earnestness, and let the zeal of thine house eat up all hindering
desire.
11. Mind recreated and made to partake of the mind of Christ.
12. Imagination cleansed and made a powerful channel for Divine revelation. A sacred supernatural lantern.
13. Sense and senses made spiritual, becoming instruments of righteousness.
14. Overcome all and be made conformable to Christ in all things. Eph. 4:13-16.
