Taylor: the source of power

Saturday, June 26, 2010
Meditation:
    [Peter:] “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’”
    —Acts 2:15-17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Since the days before Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that [the Spirit’s] power might be manifested? ... We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power.
    ... J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), “The Source of Power for Christian Missions”, in The Missionary Review of the World, v. LIII, Missionary Review Publishing Co., Inc., 1930, p. 516 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your gift of the Holy Spirit alone makes the mission of the church possible. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Swete: inarticulate longing

Friday, June 25, 2010
Meditation:
    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
    —Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There are times when we cannot pray in words, or pray as we ought; but our inarticulate longings for a better life are the Spirit’s intercessions on our behalf, audible to God who searches all hearts, and intelligible and acceptable to Him since they are the voice of His Spirit, and it is according to His will that the Spirit should intercede for the members of His Son.
    ... Henry Barclay Swete (1835-1917), The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, London: Macmillan, 1909, p. 221 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You make my prayers acceptable to You when I cannot. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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John: the source of unity

Thursday, June 24, 2010
    Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist
Meditation:
    And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
    —Acts 13:52 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Holy Spirit [is] the source of spiritual unity! He is the Fount of all true joy! ... We as missionaries need the fullness of this joy. Without it our work will be a burden to us, and we shall toil on with the hearts of slaves; and the hearts of slaves are never strong.
    ... Griffith John (1831-1912), “The Holy Spirit in Connection with our Work”, in Records of the General Conference of the Protestant Missionaries of China, Shanghai: Presbyterian Mission Press, 1878, p. 36,38 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Joy from the Holy Spirit unites Your people, Lord. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Smith: the Spirit's guidance

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
    Feast of Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678
Meditation:
Good and upright is the LORD;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
    —Psalm 25:8-9 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The guidance of the Spirit is generally by gentle suggestions or drawings, and not in violent pushes; and it requires great childlikeness of heart to be faithful to it. The secret of being made willing lies in a definite giving up of our will. As soon as we put our will on to God’s side, He immediately takes possession of it and begins to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.
    ... Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911), Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life, M. E. Dieter, ed., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan 1994, p. 134 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I feel the gentle touch of Your Spirit. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Wallis: apostolic preaching

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
    Feast of Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.209
Meditation:
    But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
    —Matthew 10:19-20 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Apostolic preaching is not marked by its beautiful diction, or literary polish, or cleverness of expression. It has laid aside “excellency of speech or of wisdom”; it has no confidence in “persuasive words of wisdom” but operates in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
    ... Arthur Wallis (1922-1988), In the Day of Thy Power: the Scriptural principles of revival, Fort Washington, Pa.: Christian Literature Crusade, 1956, p. 85 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You originate all true faith. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Kraemer: to see redemption

Monday, June 21, 2010
Meditation:
    Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
    —Galatians 1:3-5 (NIV)
Quotation:
    What does it mean to be a Christocratic brotherhood? Not a place where religion of a certain brand brings people together at stated times for stated activities, but a brotherhood where everybody finds his or her place, as in 1 Cor. 12, and where the creative fact is the living Christ, the [Redeemer] and Reconciler, who wants to reach the world to minister to it through His redeemed. For the world wants to see redemption. It is not interested in being talked to about it.
    ... Hendrik Kraemer (1888-1965), A Theology of the Laity, London: Lutterworth Press, 1958, p. 179-180 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, demonstrate redemption in the lives of Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Allshorn: all of love

Sunday, June 20, 2010
Meditation:
    And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
    —Romans 5:5 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The Holy Spirit is ... born from Love and is of Love, all its treasures are of love, and if we are to believe our Gospels it is received by love and love only. I am aware that to talk of love vaguely like this is not much help. I know how difficult it is to die to pride and self-concern, to the cowardice of a spiritual apathy that dare not face itself for what it fears to know. I know how difficult it is to remember, and to act as though we knew, that only forgiveness has a Resurrection, resentment has not—all those things that are the great and tormenting enemies to Love and its gracious freedoms.
    ... Florence Allshorn (1887-1950), The Notebooks of Florence Allshorn, London: SCM Press, 1957, p. 64 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Spirit implants love in my heart. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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