Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Rev. 3, 20b

…if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

—Authorized Version

I.

Jesus seeks admission into every heart and life–makes every possible approach to induce us to invite him in.  Why does anyone refuse him?

II.

“I will sup with him.”  I will enter sympathetically, helpfully into his life, share it with him.  How wonderfully he does this.  His presence and grace enrich the life.  He is indeed the “Great Companion.”  Why live without him?

III.

“And he with me.”  Startling glorious!!  He wishes to share his life with us–to bestow the unsearchable riches of his grace upon us.  We may enter into:

(1)  His love–love for the Father, for all men, for all goodness.  Eph. 3, 14-17.  Wonderful!

(2)  His victory over evil–Rev. 3, 21.  He resisted the tempter and is able to succour us when we are tried.  By his grace we may overcome.  Sin is not to have dominion–bear rule–over us.

(3)  His victory over suffering.  Not that it will not come, for we are mortal, but he will enable us to triumph over it, not be crushed by it.

(4)  His victory over death–“shall never die.”  Because he lives we shall live also.  Thank God for such a Saviour!

Is he yours?  Let him in today.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Ezek. 37, 1-10

Israel’s condition here seen in a vision; fittingly illustrates the sinner’s spiritual condition.

I.

“Dry bones,” devoid of spiritual life.  Figure is not too strong.  Men are powerless to move Godward if life to themselves–are “very dry,” devoid of life.

II.

“Can these bones live?”  Is there any hope for a poor lost sinner?  Yes.  “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live.”  (Jno. 5, 21 & 25-26)  “He [is] able to save to the uttermost.”  (Heb. 7, 25)  No case is hopeless.

III.

Means to be used:

(1)  “Prophesy.”  “O ye dry bones, hear ye the word of the Lord” (v. 4).  “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4, 2).  It pleaseth God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1, 21).  “The word of God is quick and powerful,” etc. (Heb. 4, 12).

(2)  Prayer for the Spirit to impart life.  “Come, O breath, and breathe upon these slain” (v. 9).  “Grieve not the Spirit” (Eph. 4, 30).  “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thes. 5, 19).  We need his power to awaken and save sinful souls.

IV.

God waits to be gracious.  How concerned he is about our salvation.

Let us look with much prayer for his saving power.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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EDITOR’S COMMENT:

My great-grandfather quoted “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” which Joseph Scriven wrote circa 1855, at least according to Sing to the Lord, the 1993 hymnal of the Church of the Nazarene.  (I have over a hundred physical hymnals and many more digital ones, for I like to sample different hymnodies.  Thus I have a rather broad collection.)  The quote from that hymn brought to my memory a comment which a parishioner (now departed) of Christ Episcopal Church, Dublin, Georgia, told me ten years ago.  Betty explained why she disliked the song:

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Anyone who would do that is not a friend, she said. Betty was correct about that point.  She pointed out a logical hole in the text, for if one has such “friends,” one might be like Job.

Jesus is, of course, the greatest friend anyone could want and have.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

MARCH 16, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A

THE FEAST OF SAINTS ADALBALD OF OSTEVANT, RICTRUDIS OF MARCHIENNES, AND THEIR RELATIONS

THE FEAST OF SAINT ABRAHAM KIDUNAIA, ROMAN CATHOLIC HERMIT, AND SAINT MARY OF EDESSA, ROMAN CATHOLIC ANCHORESS

THE FEAST OF SAINT GIOVANNI BATTISTA PERGOLESI, COMPOSER

THE FEAST OF MARTIN BOEHM, COFOUNDER OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST

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1 Peter 5, 7

Ps. 55, 22

Gal. 6, 2

I.

All have cares, burdens, sorrows of [the] heart, afflictions.  He saw so many weak–the lame, the blind, the halt-afflicted [This makes no sense to me, but I have examined my great-grandfather’s handwriting closely, and that is what he seems to have written.], either self or loved ones, many bodily ills, the dead.

Could one look on and his heart not be stirred?

II.

What [to] do with them?  Bring them to Jesus.  No care was hopeless.

Jesus never turned a soul away who came in faith.  “He was moved with compassion”–suffered with them.  “Able to do exceedingly all we ask or think”–Eph. 3, 20-21.  John [the] Baptist’s disciples “buried his body and went and told Jesus.”

“I cannot bear these burdens alone.”  Some try, [but] break under the load and destroy their lives.

III.

Sometimes it is a real relief to tell some sympathetic friend one’s troubles.  Tell it to Jesus; he will help.

“What a friend we have in Jesus.

Carry everything to God in prayer.

He cares for you.  Your cares are his cares.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Deut. 6, 6-7; Eph. 6, 4

I.

The child a bundle of possibilities for good or evil.  It responds to life about it and reproduces it.  Herein lives its destiny.

It is entitled to the very best.  It will respond thereto, as in music, art, religion.

II.

The greatest influence for good is a devoted Christian home where father and mother teach by precept and example to fear God and love righteousness.  Nothing else in the world can equal such training.

Yet how many parents neglect it.  The results often are grievous.

III.

The Sunday School is the effort of the church to supplement the efforts of the parents to teach and train the children to worship.  Most of those who join the church on profession [of faith] are from the Sunday School.

But why is there all over the nation a decrease in enrollment?  Parents compel their children to attend public school; why not also the Sunday School?

Let [us] do all we can to reach the children about us; give them every help and safeguard we can.  Do not leave them to the evils of the day.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Eph. 3, 20-21

I.

This great prayer properly ends in a great doxology–praise God for all his rich blessings.

He “is able to do exceeding abundantly.”  Being God, he is able to do all things “above all we ask or think.”  Impossible to express the full meaning of these words.  When we have asked all we can think or imagine he is able and willing to do for men, limited only by impossibility and eternity.

II.

“According to the power that worketh in us,” by the power of the Holy Spirit, working strongly in us, expelling evil, purifying and refining the affections and desires and implanting goodness.

III.

“Unto him be glory in the church.”  May unceasing praise rise to him in all assemblies of the people of God wherever these glad tidings are preached.  “Praise is comely for the upright.”

(a)  “By Christ Jesus, through whom and for whom all these mercies and powers are wrought.”

(b)  Throughout all ages, world without end”–throughout the eternity of the eternities–in the coming world as well as in this.

His boundless love and saving power and goodness shall be the theme of our praise throughout an endless eternity.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Eph. 3, 17b-19

…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

—Authorized Version

I.

Paul concerned that they may have a rich experience of love.  It is the rich soil in which the soul thrives.  Dense vegetation in the torrid zone.  “Rooted and grounded” in love to God–taking deeper, broader hold of it–fundamental to Christian developments.

II.

“Able to comprehend this wonderful mystery of God, this common heritage of his people.

(1)  “Breadth”–to all ages, nations, and ranks of men.  “So loved the world.”  Less would be unworthy of God.

(2)  “Length”–from everlasting to everlasting.  “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”  (Jer. 31, 3)  “Never fails.”

(3)  “Depth”–stooping to the lowest conditions of men to relieve and save.  “To the uttermost.

(4)  “Height”–its entitling us and raising us to heavenly happiness and eternal glory.

(5)  “And to know the love of Christ.”  That we may so experience his love in our hearts that we may appreciate its sweep and rich content, though we cannot fully comprehend it.

III.

“Filled with all the fulness of God”–meekness, gentleness, goodness, love, justice, holiness, mercy, and truth.”  “Let me love thee more and more…until my soul is lost in love.”

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Eph. 3, 17

I.

The [missing word] we have of Him has its chief value in the expression to which it leads.  It is the foundation of a living faith in Christ that we may enjoy him.  “How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”  How important is the message!  Being divine he is the Saviour of all who believe.

II.

“By faith.”  This is to be our attitude toward him–so to believe in him as to welcome him into our hearts that he may establish us in grace.  “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  “Ye shall know that…ye are in me and I in you.”  “I live yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”  (Gal. 2, 20)  “Christ in you the hope of glory.”  (Col. 1, 27)  So we are to enjoy his blessed presence in our hearts.  What an enriching experience!

III.

The consciousness of his presence in our hearts will refrain us from sin–unkindness, wrath, evil speaking, etc.

It will fill our lives with love, pure, unselfish, joyous, hopeful, helpful always.

“Let me love thee more and more.”

We will make constant progress in Christian experience, until we shall be filled with all the fullness of God.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Eph. 2, 12

I.

Man was made for God.  His immortal nature yearns after him and can find no rest away from him.

II.

God can have no fellowship with sin.  When sin comes into the heart God goes out.  Satan is God’s worst enemy.  Sin alienates him from God.

(a)  A sinner has no communion with God, no sense of God’s presence and love, no peace, no joy.  His heart responds not to God’s overtures.

(b)  No God in temptation to help him resist the devil.  Left a hopeless prey to all the snares of Satan.  Nothing but God’s grace can save one.

So he is left a victim of sin, a prey to lust, and every evil power.

How can parents rest while one child is away from God?

(c)  Without God in afflictions and bereavements.  The heart sorely needs him then.  He alone can comfort and strengthen.  No prayer, no help!  How unspeakable.

(d)  Without God in death; left to the the awful doom of the damned.

No hope of immortality, but unending woe.

Dare we live without him?  He calls you to him now.  Hear and heed him right now.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

I have had to reconstruct some text due to the fraying of the page at the right margin.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 3, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT NICHOLAS KASATKIN, ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP OF ALL JAPAN

THE FEAST OF SAINT ANSKAR, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF HAMBURG-BREMEN

THE FEAST OF GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA, COMPOSER

THE FEAST OF MILLARD FULLER, FOUNDER OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

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1 Cor. 1, 5

see 2 Cor. 8, 7; Rom. 11, 33; Eph. 3, 8; Col. 1, 27

I.

A pastor’s pleasure that his people receive grace from Christ.  He (Christ) came “that they might have live…abundantly.”  “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought.”

II.

Paul thankful for their enrichment:

1.  In utterance, or speech, knowing what to teach.  Evil thoughts and utterance–charitable conversation no longer given place. But kindness, charitable, brotherly spirit holds sway.  “Love suffereth long and is kind…thinketh no evil.”  “Let the words…and meditations…be acceptable.”–Psalm 19

2.  “In all knowledge of God’s will.”  He opens our eyes to see what once was mysterious and dark.  Now “we behold worldly things in his law.”  The Spirit illumines his word as we study it.  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119,  105).    Religious literature a great blessing.

Such a life increasing in understanding and love more and more.  Paul prayed to this end.  “The Lord make you to increase and abound in love” (1 Thes. 3).  See also 1 Thes. 4, 10:  “We beseech you that ye increase in love more and more.”

III.

The riches of Christ Jesus are unsearchable.  “The riches of grace in Christ Jesus are better than gold.”  They are for us as we press on to appropriate them and so be thereby constantly enriched in our experience.

Let us not fail to grow in grace constantly.  Who does not want to know more of him and extend the greater blessing to others?

More love to thee, O Christ and to all men.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  Part of the Original Text

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Rom. 8, 17

I.

By repentance of faith we are born into the kingdom of God–become “sons of God” (1 Jno. 3, 1-2).  “Thou art no more a servant but a son” (Gal. 4, 7).

II.

Now we have the rights of a son and are so treated–an “heir of God.”  What treasures God has to bestow upon us.  We are to enjoy him, our God and Father.  How glorious is our heritage!

III.

“Joint heirs with Christ.”  We are to share with Christ the treasures that are his by virtue of his Sonship.

(1)  The love of God–may feast on it as did our Lord.

(2)  Life in its fullness, “abundantly.”  God’s grace encircles life so much, and is sufficient for all our needs.

(3)  The Holy Spirit to dwell within and to guide and aid us.  It was by his help Jesus cast out demons and labored so helpfully.

(4)  The glories of the eternal world.  “All that I have is thine” (Lk. 15, 31b).  The right of the inheritance is thine” (Jer. 32, 8).  You and I inherit a farm.  I can’t say this field is mine and that yours.  Both alike own it and share it.  All alike belongs to Christ and us.

Shall we not enter upon our inheritance and enjoy it?

“As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  Which were born…of God.” (Jno. 1, 12-13)

“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God….Beloved now are we the sons of God” (1 Jno. 3, 1-2)

“And if children then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together.” (Rom. 8, 17)

“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3, 29)

“Wherefore thou art no more more a servant, but a son, and if a son then an heir of God through Christ.”  (Gal. 4, 7)

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” (Eph. 3, 6)

“That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3, 7)

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT