ANGEL LIGHT - Fire and Ice Ministries River of Life Fellowship
ANGEL LIGHT - Fire and Ice Ministries River of Life Fellowship
ANGEL LIGHT - Fire and Ice Ministries River of Life Fellowship
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A Word to Parents 225<br />
Andrew, going toward the place <strong>of</strong> execution <strong>and</strong> seeing the cross waiting<br />
for him, never changed his expression. Neither did he fail in his<br />
speech. His body fainted not, nor did his reason fail him, as <strong>of</strong>ten happens<br />
to men about to die. He said, ‘O cross, most welcomed <strong>and</strong><br />
longed for! With a willing mind, joyfully <strong>and</strong> desirously, I come to you,<br />
being the scholar <strong>of</strong> Him which did hang on you, because I have always<br />
been your lover <strong>and</strong> yearned to embrace you.’” (from Foxes book<br />
<strong>of</strong> Martyrs <strong>of</strong> the World pp. 67, Greensburg, Pa.: Barbour <strong>and</strong> Company<br />
Inc., 1991)<br />
This man was ready to die before the time came. Jim Elliott once said,<br />
“When it comes time for you to die, make sure that is all you have to<br />
do.” Andrew was a martyr in his heart long before he saw that cross in<br />
front <strong>of</strong> him. Here was a man that fled the night Jesus was arrested.<br />
What happened to him? He had received the baptism <strong>and</strong> infilling <strong>of</strong><br />
the Holy Spirit. A holy boldness came into his life. Notice how the Bible<br />
always says something like Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke<br />
boldly (Acts 4:8). We need a fresh baptism <strong>of</strong> fire <strong>and</strong> a boldness <strong>of</strong><br />
the Holy Spirit in our lives to live this Christian life.<br />
We must be ready in our hearts even now. We should hate the world<br />
<strong>and</strong> all that is in it. The Bible says if we are friends with the world, we<br />
are enemies <strong>of</strong> God (James 4:4).<br />
Overcoming weaknesses<br />
Like everyone, there are weaknesses in your life. There are areas<br />
where you fall <strong>and</strong> struggle in sin. The first step to overcoming these<br />
things is by dying to them. You need to ask yourself if you are really<br />
ready to fully give these things up <strong>and</strong> never pick them up again. You<br />
need to lay everything down at the cross. I close with these two sayings:<br />
Religion is hanging around the cross <strong>and</strong> knowing who Jesus is.<br />
Christianity is getting on the cross. The degree you are willing to die,<br />
will be the level you find true life.<br />
Here is a prayer to pray:<br />
Father, give me the grace to totally die to self. Jesus, put me on like a<br />
glove <strong>and</strong> live your resurrected life through me. Give me a hatred for<br />
what you hate <strong>and</strong> a love for what you love. Take everything out <strong>of</strong> me<br />
by the roots <strong>and</strong> kill it that is not <strong>of</strong> you, <strong>and</strong> put in me what I need to<br />
have. I lay down my life. Help me bring you glory through my life <strong>and</strong><br />
death to self. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.<br />
1. He Came to Set the Captives Free pgs 145146<br />
Author: Rebecca Brown