Galatians 5

http://streaming.ccphilly.org/video.aspx?id=SAM871

http://streaming.ccphilly.org/video.aspx?id=SAM869

2 challenging messages from Pastor Joe Focht, Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia.

Enjoy.

Quote from Alan Redpath

"There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose."
                                                                                                       Alan Redpath.

This struck me as a very interesting quote. I hope I remember it when difficulties come.

Continuing on the Christian perfection theme...

Reading through the book of Hebrews the words perfect and perfection are mentioned a lot of times. (no I didn't count!). I used the cheat's version. E-Sword is very useful!
The word "perfect" occurs 99 times in Scripture. I guess we should take note of it, but it's funny how it hasn't really "jumped out" at me before reading Mr Wesley's book!

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:10 NKJV

"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection," Hebrews 6:1

A poem

"Not a sound invades the stillness,
Not a form invades the scene,
Save the voice of my Beloved
And the person of my King.

Precious, gentle, holy Jesus,
Blessed Bridegroom of my heart,
In Thy secret inner chamber
Thou wilt whisper what Thou art.

And within those heavenly places,
Calmly hushed in sweet repose,
There I drink with joy absorbing
All the love Thou wouldst disclose.

Wrapt in deep adoring silence,
Jesus, Lord, I dare not move,
Lest I lose the smallest saying
Meant to catch the ear of love.

Rest then, oh my soul, contented,
Thou hast reached that happy place
In the bosom of thy Saviour,
Gazing up in His dear face."

found in a Smith Wigglesworth book, "Power to serve"

3 Wesley quotes

I've been reading Mr. Wesley's "Plain Account of Christian Perfection" (which I got for Christmas) Thanks Mum and Dad!
It's a very interesting and encouraging book which I'm thoroughly enjoying- sadly have nearly finished it.
3 quotes that particularly jumped out at me today:

"In the greatest temptations, a single look to Christ, and the barely pronouncing His name, suffices to overcome the wicked one, so it be done with confidence and calmness of spirit."

"God is so great, that He communicates greatness to the least thing that is done for His service."

"It is good to renew ourselves, from time to time, by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before; for nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith, than to keep ourselves by this means in humility, and the exercise of all good works."

Hope you're encouraged as much as I was!