What Is a Christian 10 Christian Is Influence — James K. Boswell

We'll join you again this morning, and we just trust the Lord to continue to speak to our heart. Now, please open your Bibles at Matthew, and the fifth chapter. Matthew, chapter five, please. I think you remember the theme this morning is the Christian as an influence.

I'm so glad some of you are feeling free to come and talk these things over with us, and that's a real pleasure too, because we can share with one another. Sometimes you don't always get what I'm saying from the platform.

I talk far too fast, and so if you don't quite get it, don't be afraid to come and talk things over. We're only too happy to help when we can. Now, Matthew 5, and verse number 13. Now, remember the Lord Jesus is the speaker, and he's saying, ye are the salt of the earth, that is, the salt of lost its favor, wherewith shall it be salted?

It is said, for good, for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men. Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, neither do men like a candle put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good work, and glorify your father which is in heaven. The Lord add his blessing to that reading from his word to our hearts this morning. The Christian has an influence, and the Lord Jesus says to his own, ye are the salt of the earth, ye are the light of the world.

Christians as Salt and Light in the World

The salt does its work in the dark, because the light shines in the open, and when the light shines, then the darkness is displaced completely, and the light shines brighter and brighter. The Lord says, ye are the salt of the earth.

Sometimes you talk about so-and-so, and say, why, he, she, they're just the salt of the earth, meaning that nobody likes them, you know, they're just unique in every way. They have such a wonderful influence, there's a fragrance about them, and my friend, the Lord says that about you, he says that about me.

He says, ye are the salt of the earth, just like we were finding out how always the light is treasured in his own, that means we are precious to him, we are just absolutely everything to him. But now, regarding our influence here on earth, he says, ye are the salt of the earth.

Now, remember, salt is a preservative, it is a preservative, and the salt reminds me of purity, of purity. The salt has an also healing virtue, and the salt is used for flavoring. Now, these thoughts came springing into my heart as I was meditating upon this this morning.

Salt as Preservation and Purity

The salt, remember, is a preservative. Remember, they put salt upon the meat to preserve the meat, and that is what we are. While the church is here, we are the salt of the earth, and we're preserving this world from all from God's holy judgment that's going to fall upon it, and as long as we're here, judgment will not come.

Thank God one day for us, I say thank God, we're going to be removed from this scene altogether, but I shudder to think of what's going to take place in this old tottering world after the salt has been removed.

Secondly, the salt reminds me of purity. Let me thank God for the purifying effect and influence of the salt, and we here too are to our means of purity. Our influence should be a purifying influence while here on earth.

Remember, the Lord says we are in the world, but we are not of the world, and as we go in and out among men and women, there should be a purifying influence. You know, I've been thinking this beautiful morning, and I've been thinking a lot about it, and about six o 'clock I could see that sun rising over the lake.

It was just amazing, and I thought of this day in all its purity, all its freshness, and all the sweetness of the aroma all around. Just wonderful to be alive, and I prayed, Imri, Lord grant that nothing from my life will bring any blemish, or tarnish, or impurity upon the beauty of this day.

That your life and my life might be an outshining of the indwelling Christ, reminding our hearts that we're here as a purifying influence. Remember that's what the Lord says to his servant Paul, rather John, they'd have this whole set on him, purify themselves even as he is pure, and so we should have a purifying effect and influence upon others.

They should be able to detect and recognize the fact that we are children of God. Then Father, it has this healing virtue, isn't it wonderful that we go in and out among men and women, that some will need a little cordial by the way, a little word of cheer, a little word of encouragement.

As I said the other morning, I repeat it, often behind a smiling face there is a breaking heart. We don't always understand what's going on, but that little handshake, that little cheering word by the way, that little smile, all healing virtue that brings into that dear life, and we can all do that, but we can't all be preachers.

Influence Through Personal Contact

We can't all be preachers, but some people got the idea the greatest influence of all is that which is done from the dead, are done from the front, not at all. I believe the greatest influence that carries the most purifying healing in virtue is that which is done in the personal contact.

Now some people think, well if I can't preach the gospel, if I can't teach God's word, then I'm of no value at all. I won't encourage your heart. I believe the greatest work done is the work done behind the scenes, in that personal contact.

You see, it's all does its work in the dark, and one day it's going to be made manifest, the great work your life has done in the lives of others, just that influence, that contact by the way. A simple illustration here, there was a preacher from the old country, he was very uncouth, his grammar was atrocious, and a doctor for philosophy would prevail the farm to go and listen to him.

I know the preacher, and it so happened that this doctor was invited out for supper, and with the result of getting along to the meeting, that's a good way of getting people to read, by the way. Invite them out for a meal, that other courtesy to come along with you, you see.

That's what happened here. So here the preacher got started, and he hadn't gone very far when the doctor's intelligence was insulted by the man's language. There's a little motto, probably you've seen it at Niagara Falls, you're better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a than to open it and remove all doubt.

So it so happened that this doctor went back a few nights afterward, and then he went back another few nights afterward, and the last night he's there, and the preacher, I'm going to ask this man to be saved.

So the doctor went up to the preacher and said, good night brother, God bless you. Are you saved doctor? Oh yes, I'm saved, all right. So when we were saved, the very first night I came to the meeting, I was saved.

Now the preacher's chest began to swell up. What a wonderful note for the letters of interest. Why the doctor will not be saved in my meeting. My, won't that meet wonderful headlines? So the doctor, what was I preaching on the first night you came?

Oh, he said, I don't know. There's never anything you said have brought me to Christ. How deflating some people can be. Well they say, well what was it? Doctor, he said, it was the handshake I got from the brother giving out the hymn books.

I recognized that man had got something I hadn't got. I didn't read that letter. I found his savior is my savior. Brethren, sisters, when we get home to heaven, we'll see things in their true perspective.

We'll see things in their true life, and the great things we thought were done for him will go about his wooden stubble, and little things we've forgotten about. That handshake, that smile, that God bless you, that letter written in that dear mystery, way in that far off land, and that letter just arrived when the moment he was in a state of despondency, or she was being discouraged, a new letter just arrived at the right moment.

Ah, that's going to be reward in the coming day. I remember Mrs. Sosa wasn't very well, and you knew she liked egg custard, and you baked her egg custard, and you took that across her in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ah, that's going to be reward in the coming day. Mrs. Sosa has rather a lot of children, and she's not getting on too well with her work, and you've got time on your hands, so what do you do? You say, let me have the children.

I'll take them to the park real fast while you get on with your work. Doing it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Another point, you think of that dear woman, she hasn't been at all too well, but you've got an automatic washer and dryer.

You say, let me have your washing. Oh no, I'm just taking it. You take the washing, you take it home, you iron it, you take it back to her, all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Brethren and sisters, that's going to be a reward in the coming day.

Practical Christianity and Good Works

I'm all out for practical Christianity, and we want the influence of this Christ's life lived out in our lives day by day. This is what's going to be rewarded. Now, the Bible says right here, and I want to help you with this.

See, some people say, if only I could preach. May I say this in passing, there's no calling so high, there's no profession so noble, than to be the bond slave of Jesus Christ. Now, my friend, listen, it's not all done from the dead.

I repeat with empathy, I believe the most important work is the influence that God's good control and spirit-energized life. The life you have upon your associates, your colleagues, your friends, and your neighbors, and upon your own family.

This is terrific, and this has with it a healing virtue. Just think of the healing you can bring to many other lives, just because you're touched by the Lord yourself. Imagine this connection when salt is used for flavoring.

My friend, how insipid are potatoes without any salt? Or meat without any salt on it, when it's being cooked? An egg without any salt? How, how, how, how insipid, how tasteful it seems to be, doesn't it?

And so is the life, my friend, without the salt. And so would this world be without you, and without me, for the Lord says, remember ye are the salt of the earth. May God help us recognize the wonderful influence we should have.

Now notice, we can't energize, and we can't engineer this, we can't work it up, we can't plan this, we can't organize it. It comes from our life controlled by the Holy Spirit himself, that we yield to the indwelling spirit.

Your life and my life becomes an outshining of the indwelling Christ. Something more may help us here now. We are the light of the world, but notice if the salt lost its flavor, if the salt lost its influence, then men trot it down.

Have you got that? And have you, my friend, were once running wealth alone, and you've allowed something to come in that's taken all that beautiful purity, preservative, and healing influence out of your life?

Something's come in to be cloud that influence. Ah, the member of the enemy around, the enemy around, men of wrath, they just take their testimony, and they just trot it underfoot. The very same as the branches that are taken from the vine, remember?

The men, I said, and men take them and burn them. Men have got no mercy. And my friend, listen, if you've gone on, and somehow or other you've got into a back-spin condition, and your life is not having that Christ-like fragrance, that influence upon others, they are not long to be slow to detect it.

They can see through it immediately. Let me give you an illustration. A plane that was back in Britain some years ago was managing a large drugstore. Now, this dear man, I know him very, very well, we were having a gospel tent campaign quite near to where we were then living, just outside Birmingham, England.

Each morning at seven o 'clock, we had an early morning prayer meeting. This tent campaign went on for about nine weeks, night after night, day after day. And this morning in the prayer meeting, we're sitting on a form, and I could feel the form shaking.

Now, I was around here with my friend, the manager of the drugstore, tears rolling down his face, his whole body moving with emotion. I couldn't quite understand it. So, during the course of the prayer meeting, a young lady got up quite spontaneously, began to sing, Shall my hands be empty when I stand before the everlasting throne?

I'll have nothing but leaves, no fruit, nothing but leaves. That girl went up later to Pakistan as a missionary, and at the meeting I said to this fellow, Tom, what's the matter with you? He said, Jim, it's breaking my heart.

I said, what's breaking your heart? He said, you know, Jim, I've been in that store for 18 months. Now, I've worked in that store, and I've come in contact with a woman twice daily for 18 months, and he said that woman did not realize until only yesterday, and she came to me and said, Tom, I never knew you were a Christian, until I saw your name on a placard down the town, going to speak at a young people rally.

I didn't realize you were one of those kind of people. And he said, Jim, it's breaking my heart. So, since I've come in contact with that woman twice daily, and she never realized I was a Christian, all the poor influence I must have had upon that woman.

You see, when I went home that night, I looked over my mantelpiece in my lodging, and I saw the word, the Lord reigneth. So, I took it down and threw it down in my desk. It's not true. He's not reigning in my life.

I am preaching to others he's reigning in my life. He's not reigning at all. He said, Jim, I'm only a hypocrite. I'm only an hypocrite. I'm just going wrong with a veneer. Thank God that man was broken down.

He recognized the influence more than the true influence. Let me ask you very lovingly, with my own heart now, because heart to heart, what kind of influence are we having? Remember, Christ says you are the salt of the earth.

Reflecting the Light of Christ

Then he says you're the light of the world. But, remember in John chapter 8, verse number 12, this wonderful word, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Now, just as the moon is the reflection of the sun, so beloved, we are the reflectors. Christ said when he was left, I am the light of the world, but now he says, we are the light of the world. And remember in Revelation chapter 2, verse number 15, he says we are God's eternal light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

I'm here to shine as light, but if the reflector is dirty, then the light won't be very bright. The other night I was coming over in Atlanta, and on the top of a hill, looking down into Atlanta from where I was standing, or driving rather, I could see the beautiful light.

There were some really brilliant, some might claim were quite dim, some were quite dull, but they were all shining. They were all shining, and if you're a child of God, you are a light. I am a light. Now, there's some lights which are very bright, and very brilliant.

Some might claim may not be quite so bright, some may be very dim, but they're all shining. You in your small corner, and I in mine. To me, I thought, way back in Britain, years ago, we used to have a model T4 car, a 1936.

You know, that car gave us very good service, but sometimes, you know, the reflector in my headlight would get rather dirty, and rather dull, and I had to take the rim off, and take the glass off, and go in and polish up that reflector with old brass, polish it all up, until I could almost see my face in that reflector.

I knew I just longed for the darkness to come. Why, I want to see now the beam, beaming along the highway, how far the light could be thrown along the highway. When the reflector was dirty, I didn't get a very bright light, but once the reflector was all polished up, really shining, oh my friend, I had a real beautiful headlight.

So it is with your life, and my life. When the reflector is dirty, you can't expect the light to shine too brightly, can we? And during these days of conference, I don't mean just during this week, but during the weeks that have gone by, I know the men you've had here, the majority of them, that I know exactly the kind of ministry you've been having, have been reaching right down deep into your heart, and down into their own heart, as is your heart of mine this morning.

I wonder, has the reflector been cleaned up during these days of conference? Or do let there just be another spiritual picnic, an intellectual feast? Let it get right down deep into your heart, into my heart.

Let me get cleansing effect in all lives, and the influence of our Christian testament be such, others will be attracted to our adorable Lord Jesus Christ. That's what we're longing for. I was in another city some time ago, going from door to door, inviting people to the meetings in the particular church where I was ministering.

I said, I would like you to come along for the services. The man standing by said, is that your soul, Sir Girls? Oh yes, do you know him? I, in fact, I'm living on his property. Oh, I won't be there. I've had personal dealings with that man.

I've done business with him, and he twisted me. A very poor influence. Of course, that same day visitation worked. I went to another house. They just said, is that your doctor, Sir Girls? Oh yes, oh, I'll be there.

Oh, that man's such a wonderful Christian. What a contrast. Your life as an influence, my life as an influence as a Christian. What kind of influence are we having, hmm? You've all got that little booklet, haven't you?

How really bad. Don't you notice the reading during these past days, have you? You see how it's dealing with practical Christianity, an influence we're having. One little thing I noticed yesterday, I may be allowed to just repeat it, if I may, written by my good friend Paul Van Horn.

The closing word says, you are writing each day a letter to men. Take care that the writing is true. It's the only gospel some men will read, the gospel according to you. Isn't that amazing? Men who won't study the Bible will read living epistles.

And something else I noticed here, and this is on the very first day, the little spot at the bottom says, good works is love for Christ made visible. Isn't that lovely? Now what does it say right here now?

It says, men shall see your good work, that they're going to glorify your Father in heaven. I feel the good work is the love of Christ made visible, where? Through your life and my life. All the joy for the practical Christianity.

Can I give you an illustration here? I think, on the very first note in here, the username I use very often, that he calls him Dr. Swan. I call him Dr. Jones. Yes, his may be the revised version, I don't know.

You see, are you the doctor that preaches, are you the doctor that practices, you see? Can I give you an illustration? A lady went into a church, a visitor went into this particular church, sat down in the very second front row, and the lady came and sat right down beside her.

The first lady, as the service was over, turned to the other lady and said, my, isn't that a wonderful message? And isn't he so angelic? The other lady, yes, he's an angel in the pulpit, but he's a devil in the house.

He was the preacher's wife. Got it? Let us practice what we preach. Let us live just as we pray. The call this morning, beloved, is for practical Christianity. The Christian is an influence. I wonder what kind of influence we are at this time.

Love as the Most Powerful Christian Witness

Let's think fallen, shall we? The light shining brighter and brighter unto a perfect day. Good works, the love of Christ made visible. Can I give an illustration here? Two missionaries, one a very eloquent preacher, the other couldn't preach pretending, the one a striking personality, along with his bold oratory, the other no personality forever.

Two men from Britain, Mr. J .B. Watson, the lead editor of The Witness, and Percy Ruoff, went at the invitation of Eccles' service to visit those particular stations. When they got there, they were rather taken aback by seeing so many assemblies there, and also by the love and the appreciation they had, that they have had, for the man who was not the great preacher, nor the wonderful personality, and he had just overshadowed the man with the wonderful oratory, and the wonderful personality, that both those men are very well known in the North American continent.

And so, they got among them, and they began to ask questions. Why is it that Brother Sturgeon, who is not such a wonderful preacher as the other man, who is not the personality that the other man has, yet he's led far more of your people to Christ, he's had far more assemblies planted than the other great author, why is it?

Do you know the answer? They said, no, you can preach like Brother so-and-so, but my, doesn't he love us! Did you get it? And what preaching will never do, love will. And then, it's not eloquence of litany today, it's eloquence of love, the love of Christ made visible through you and through me.

This is God's answer. Let's go a little further, then, shall we? You've got the word influence down across it, Paul, have you? I want to give you a letter, a word for each set of now. The first word I want to give you is an inspiring influence.

The Inspiring Influence of the Risen Christ

Inspiring. I want an inspiration. The Christian influence should be among other Christians, and among others who know not the Lord Jesus Christ. So, turn now with me, will you, to John chapter 20. Now, there you've got the first letter, letter I, and the word is the word inspiring.

It is an inspiration. Now, you think of this for one minute. The Lord Jesus had gone to the cross, he suffered, he bled, he died, but thank God he's risen again. He told his own to meet him there in the upper room, and they're there to meet him in the upper room, and remember on the first day of the week, when he found the Lord Jesus himself appears in their midst, and he says to them, peace be unto you.

He showed them his hands and his feet, that their sides were made glad when they saw the Lord, and then he says in verse number 21, as my father sent me, even so send I you. Think of the wonderful inspiration, what a wonderful influence the Lord had upon these dear men.

Know this, he's the bringer of peace. He's the prince of peace. He's made peace by the blood of his cross. The Bible says he is our peace, and now he brought peace to those troubled breasts. My friends, those breasts were heaving, their hearts were at breaking point.

The Lord came there, and he whispered, peace be unto you. There may be a heart here this morning, and my friend, you need the influence of the prince of peace. Oh yes, you need to hear the Lord saying to you in the choir this morning hour, peace, and as you hear that voice, that voice so full of understanding, and sympathy, and so full of music, you my friend, you'll find an inner serenity.

Under a triangle, why? Because of the voice of the Lord himself, the one who procured peace for you from the blood he shed upon the cross at Golgotha, and now he comes to you as the prince of peace, and says peace be unto you.

Peace, perfect peace in this dark world of sin. The blood of Jesus whispers peace, and within he is the prince of peace, and then he is the inspirer of all true joy, and says when they had seen the Lord, their hearts were made glad.

That's what I want you to see during this morning, and during these days we are together. The loose side of the servant, but to see the Savior. Look to that loose side of the channel, but see the Christ.

We want you, my friend, to see him in all his glory and beauty. That's why we pray, may his beauty rest upon us as we seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only him. And as you see him, your heart will be inspired, your heart will be made glad, your heart will be filled with joy.

You can't even be the very same person again. All will change by beholding him. What an influence, what a transforming influence the Lord has in the life that's occupied with him. Isn't it true? And then to hear him say, as my father sent me, even so send I you.

What an influence he's brought upon those dear ones, but he's going away from them, and the Holy Spirit is joining them. He wants to influence others through them. He's going to live his life through them now.

Then it says in John 14 verse number 12, and greater work for me shall ye do, because I go to my father, because I go to my father. You say, how could they do greater work than Christ was doing here on earth?

This is the reason. When the Lord Jesus was here on earth, he was localized. Capernaum, he lived in Capernaum. Jerusalem, he was in Jerusalem. He could not be in two places at once, but now, but now, he said, if I go, I will send another comforter, and he will be abide with you forever.

And he said, and he shall be in you. Now listen, wherever there's a believer, there Christ is. And now remember, through your good work, the love of Christ made visible through you and through me. And so my friend, now the life of Christ is being reproduced in each and every believer.

When Christ was here on earth, he was localized, but now, wherever there's a Christian, in the factory, in the plant, on the path, in the college, in the home, in the hostel, as we travel, on the plane, the bus, or the train, wherever it may be, wherever there's a Christian, Christ is there.

And all the mighty works of the risen Lord are possible through you and through me. In the wonderment, let it come over your heart this morning, what an influence the Christ might in us. Then something more.

Thomas Encounters the Wounds of Christ

Remember that particular day, Thomas was missing. Thomas was missing that day, and what happened? I could hear the disciples saying, Thomas, journey, why, Thomas, you missed yourself on Lord's day. With a wonderful time, what happened?

The Lord appeared and said, listen, I won't believe that. I won't believe that. I won't believe it until I've seen the nail prints in his hands and feet, until I put my finger into the nail print, so I thrust my hand into his thigh.

I won't believe it. Now, I'd rather admire Thomas. Thomas was not going to push off with any impostor, but a dear woman of Weyand in India, who went to her and said, oh come, Christ has come. Christ has come, he's all over the neighbouring village.

Come, he's bringing fire down from heaven. He's doing wonderful miracles. Come. The dear old woman, her simplicity said, has he got the mark from the nails in his hand? That's it. Has he got the mark from the nails in his hand?

And Thomas was not going to put off with any impostor. He wanted to see the mark from the nails. He wanted to see that dear woman's thighs. Yes, it's just coming to you. The very next Lord's day, Thomas is there first.

He's there first, and then they're gathering in the upper room, and what happened? The Lord himself appears in the midst, and he said, he's beyond you. Then he had a personal word with Thomas. The Lord always does that.

He always has a personal word with us. He always deals with the individuals, and although I may be talking to a group here this morning, he's talking to us personally, isn't he? And he's saying to you, calling you by your own special name, and he said to Thomas, Thomas, behold the nail print.

Behold the thigh, Thomas. Thomas, come closer. Come closer, Thomas. Put your finger into the nail print. Now, Thomas could behold the mark from the Golgotha from a distance, but to put his finger in the nail print, thrust his hand to his thigh, he had to be very near.

We never read Thomas did that. Oh no. Thomas, my friend, prostrated himself before the Lord, and cried, my Lord and my God. Thomas rose to wonderful heights that day. Beloved, the Lord is here this morning, and the Lord is nearer to us than our neighbor, and he's saying to you, and he's saying to me, calling us by our own special name.

Behold the nail print. Come closer. Just like Joseph of old said to his brethren, come near to me. Come near to me. And somehow I feel the Lord saying that to you this morning, and he's saying it to me.

Just come near to me. I want you close to me. They may not sing that lovely hymn, close to thee, close to me. Oh, he wants to be so near, and he says, beloved, it was for you. Don't forget all about your neighbor.

Forget all about what you're going to do after this meeting, and just remember you're here in the upper room, and the Lord is saying to you, behold the nail print. Behold the steel driven thigh. Beloved, it was for you, and I know what's going to happen.

You're going to prostrate before me. You're going to cry, thy wounds, thy wounds, Lord Jesus. Those deep, deep wounds will tell. The sacrifice that frees us from sin, and filth, and hell. Wounded for me, wounded for me.

There on the cross, he was wounded for me. Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, all because Jesus was wounded for me, amidst us, out of love of his hand. Amidst this view, his putrid hand, poised to his wounded feet and side, blessed emblems of the crucified.

What influence is this having on you, and on me this morning? A year ago, we were in the upper room, in Jerusalem, and I'll never be able to describe to you the influence of Christ upon my own life that particular day.

Almost two thousand years since the thing I'm repeating to you from the Holy Scripture taking place, my friend, and the influence of the Christ is still there. We have similar influence, as we're going across Lake Galilee.

Our guide told us, it's not the historical buildings, not so much the places, but he said the influence, the atmosphere, and it's true. Now, you may see pictures, I may show your pictures next week, by the way, on this trip to Jerusalem.

You may see pictures, you may listen to lectures, but these, my friend, will never take the place of being there. To appreciate, you've got to experience it. I'm going across Lake Galilee. Our boat stopped, and our guide, in beautiful diction and in perfect English, he read the narrative of Christ crossing the lake, how a storm broke up, how he said, peace be still, and there was a great calm.

Then he asked one of the dear men to pray, a very gallant young man from the land of Georgia, and as he prayed, the Lord drew so very, very close to each one of us, the tears began to roll down our faces.

We were conscious the Lord was with us, right there. As he was saying, were those fishermen days gone by, and the fishermen were working all around us, casting their nets, just as in the days of Lord Jesus.

Then I stopped in the chorus while on Lake Galilee. By blue Galilee, Jesus walked aboard. By blue Galilee, wondrous things he told. Jesus, still our teacher be, showing wondrous things to me, as of old, by Galilee, blue Galilee.

And friend, the emotion and the influence was so real and so vital, we could almost put our hand and touch him. But never more so than in that upper room. Mrs. Boswell and others have left their upper room by this particular time, I'm thinking of.

The only place I ever wanted to go to in the whole trip was that upper room. I said, please, I want, and I want to stay there. Others were gathered there, men, women. The pastor of the Mystery Alliance Church from Atlanta said, Jim, let us pray.

Who are you praying? And I said, now before we pray, we're going to sing. I'm very fond of singing. I can't sing, but I love to sing. Amidst us, our beloved stands, right there in the upper room, and bids us view his pierced hand.

And as we went on singing that, the tears began to roll, and some of those men were great big, strong, he-muscular men. But the tears rolled down all our faces. All we were influenced, we're so conscious of the Lord's presence right there with us, just as we are here this morning.

The Lord is here. You know it, don't you? He's nearer to you than your neighbor this morning, and he's whispering, behold the nail prints. As we came to this point, the ninth grade, we reminded our hearts again of Christ, the Prince of Peace, bringing peace to our hearts.

We again reminded our hearts of him being the inspirer of all through joy, and again we gazed upon those wounds, and then we recognized he was the commissioner of his people. And then when he said to Thomas, behold the nail prints, thrust thy hand into my side, we remind our heart it must be an awful gash in the Son of the Lord Jesus, and we also remind our heart that very spear that pierced his side drew forth the blood to save.