Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

— Galatians 2:20, NKJV 

THE TESTIMONY 

A man may be a great sinner, but if he realizes that he has sinned against God, if he repents and confesses his sin, and strives to make restitution for the past, he will receive forgiveness. God declares, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” 

But when a man is so filled with self-sufficiency that he can not see his faults, how can he be cleansed from sin?... How can a man improve when he thinks his ways perfect? 

Take the Word of God, and search its pages as never before, that you may learn what it means to be a Christian. You need not be discouraged; for the One who died to save you declares, “Ye shall receive power,”—power to overcome self and selfishness, power to reveal Christ as He is, full of grace and truth. 

The Lord says, “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.” “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” 

We must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that results in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace. It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. We must know our true condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ’s help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we shall not desire healing. 

Are you willing to let Jesus enter the heart to cleanse it from all that defiles?... Can you say, “For me to live is Christ,” I am His? 

Human nature is ever struggling for expression. He who is made complete in Christ must first be emptied of pride, of self-sufficiency. Then there is silence in the soul, and God’s voice can be heard. Then the Spirit can find unobstructed entrance. 

Let God work in and through you. Then with Paul you can say, “I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.” But until self is laid on the altar, until we let the Holy Spirit mould and fashion us according to the divine similitude, we can not reach God’s ideal for us. 

— Signs of the Times, April 9, 1902 

THE RESPONSE 

Repent and confess your sins, strive to make restitution for the past. God promises that those who come to Him will not be cast out. 

Let Jesus enter the heart to cleanse it from all that defiles. Say, “For me to live is Christ,” I am His. 

Be emptied of pride and self-sufficiency until there is silence in the soul, then God’s voice can be heard.  

Lay self on the altar, let the Holy Spirit mold and fashion you according to the divine likeness in order to reach God’s ideal for you.