Tokens of His Compassion - Part 4 — Leonard Ravenhill

Christ’s Authority in the Synagogue

Of the Lord. And he closed the book and gave it to the minister and sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened upon him. I don't wonder. Well if the ungodly people said he speaks with authority and not as the scribes.

Preaching can be as empty as beating a drum. A man needs authority. Define it if you like as unction. Define it if you like as anointing. As the old coloured preacher says, I don't know what it is but I know when it isn't.

When I don't have it he said I know when I haven't had it. It's that mysterious something that God is pleased to put upon those who will travel and wait for that anointing. Without which preaching has no power and has no authority.

Jesus’ Fellowship with the Father

I'm going to read this again. The Spirit of the Lord. No, I'll read the first of 17 chapter 1. Chapter 17 verse 1. These words spake Jesus and lifted his eyes to heaven and said, Father, I say when I heard my son Paul say the other day to someone he didn't know I was listening, say, my father, I felt such a joy.

I know what kind of a son I have. An anointed man, a preacher, a pioneer in one of the most difficult fields in South America. Doesn't look so old but he's been there about 25 years anyhow. Can you remember Isaiah looking up into the face of God and saying Father?

Can you remember Jeremiah looking up into the face of God and saying Father? Or any of those stalwart giants we think of? Take all of them if you like in Hebrews 11. Anyone of them ever call the creator of heaven and earth?

Isaiah doesn't do it. He calls him the high and lofty one who inhabits at eternity. He sits upon the circle of the earth. He falls speechless before God. Here Jesus has come through this long, long period.

Jesus’ Preparation for His Public Ministry

I'll suggest you tonight, disagree if you like, that right up to this point Jesus had been in training for what's coming. As I say, would you like to read your own biography before you die? Knowing it was accurate?

That little fellow who sat there puzzling the high priests and the distinguished people there. It was possibly like some of the Jews that there are in New York today and I've great admiration for them.

There's a sect there, I don't know what you call them, Hasidic is it something? They wear flat hats and they've big black curls coming down to their shoulders and I understand every one of those men can recite the first five books of Moses.

Isn't that right? Pardon? Oh I see, thank you. Now you've got that straight. I don't know what it was but it's straight. Can you imagine Jesus reciting all those books? Can you imagine him reading again about the Virgin should bear a child?

Can you think of him reading through Isaiah 53? Who hath believed our report? To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? He should grow up before him as a tender plant. He should be like a root out of a dry ground.

There's no beauty about that. There's no beauty that we should desire him. I say Jesus up to this time has been preparing for this awesome thing that lies ahead of him. We can break this chapter up into many areas, I don't want to do that.

The Church’s Compromise with the World

I want you to notice if you will when you read through John, I think about 33 times he mentions the world. You know one of the tragedies of the world today is the early church, the world couldn't get on with the early church, it can get on with us.

We're not a thorn in its side. We don't cause it any trouble. If he displayed some of the power of God they might take some notice but we don't do that. Ours is all theology, it's all paperwork. I looked up these things today just to go quickly through them.

In 1 Corinthians and chapter 1 the Apostle Paul talks about the wisdom of this world which is foolishness with God. Do you think God's interested that we've got a thing floating up in the sky right now, a machine full of technology and it can spy on the Russians?

Do you think that troubles God in eternity? The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. Friendship with the world is enmity against God. How friendly are you with the world? What secret society do you belong?

Some of you guys Masons? Wesley used to kick the Masons around a lot. I clashed with one in Ireland, he said it's not a religion. I said well why do you go to a temple? They meet in a temple, who meets in a temple except for the thought they go to worship.

The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. 1 Corinthians 7 says the fashion of this world passeth away. John in his first first epistle says if you love the world, the love of the Father isn't in you.

You forfeit God's love as soon as you get fascinated with the love of the world. I read an article recently where the preacher was saying you know, so many people lose their first love. That's not what the Bible says.

Leaving the First Love

The Bible says thou hast left thy first love. You don't lose it. I've got an old coat. It was about 20 years, I lost it this week. Boy was I upset. It's out of style, but it's good to me, keeps me warm.

I was glad when I found it. I lost it. But the address to the people there in the book of the Revelation is to people who left their first love. Something else got them, and they gave all their consuming passion and desire to that one thing that they got hold of again.

Love not the world, neither the things of the world. It's all about the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which all belong to this world. What I'm wanting to say now really, which which has been in the back of my mind for days, I haven't got hold of it as I should, I'm sure of that.

The Holy Spirit as the Strengthening Comforter

Chapter 13, where Jesus introduces his disciples to the Lord's Supper. Then immediately introduces them to the washing of feet, which has gone out with most people. That's chapter 13. Chapter 14, in verse 26, he mentions there for the first time the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost.

That always reminds me of my dear old teacher in England, old Samuel Chadwick. He said, remember he's the Comforter, but he is not. These are his exact words, because I heard them say so many times, and I've quoted them many times since myself.

The Comforter, which is, but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit is not a nursing mother to spiritually sick children. That word Comforter in English, in Latin, is Comfortis, K-U-M-dash-F-O-R-T-I-S, with strength.

Receiving Power from the Holy Spirit

What did Jesus say? When the Holy Ghost has come, what, you shall receive what? In other words, you shall receive strength, the Holy Ghost coming upon you.