Something is missing in America. It is the presence of large numbers of people who love the Lord and are serving Him with their whole heart, who are acknowledging Him in all their ways. So much of what is being done in the way of Christian ministry seems to me to lack the Lord's timing, the sense of His Presence. It is a kind of grinding at the mill. Have you ever noticed that?

I think if we will love the Lord fervently and acknowledge Him in all our ways we will win souls to the righteous Jesus, not just make another adherent to our religion. Whether or not this is true, it is a fact that the Christian testimony in America has been harmed by the behavior of some of the Christians. The American people are cynical and are turning to other religions to satisfy their hunger for God and the supernatural.

Nevertheless, our God is the one true God. Jesus Christ is alive and in charge of the universe. He will rescue and protect us if we will love and acknowledge Him continually.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalms 91:15—NIV)

There is a tendency among American Christians to attempt to find a formula that will guarantee a successful marriage, a peaceful home life, health, peace, and happiness. We ought not to be looking for ways in which we can use the things of Christ to get what we want.

The Lord does not invite us to put our faith in faith but in Himself. We are to call upon Him constantly, giving thanks and letting our requests be made known to Him. Christ answers us, not as the metaphysical response to some formula we have managed to apply correctly but as a Person, a genuine living Person.

God is not a source of power we are to tap by applying religious principles. How many books are there in the Christian book stores that suggest this very thing?

God is a Person. Jesus Christ is a Person. God is our Father. Jesus Christ is our older Brother.

Christ did not come to earth to demonstrate spiritual principles that we are to imitate and thus receive miracle-working power. Christ came to earth to die as an atonement for the sin of the world. Then He rose from the dead in flesh and bone form. He is a Person!

Then He ascended, meanwhile giving the Holy Spirit to His beloved saints in the form of wisdom, knowledge, miracle power, healing virtue, and so forth, the purpose being to build them up in His image.

When a sufficient number have come to spiritual maturity He shall return with them and install His Kingdom on the earth. They are His Bride, His brothers, His very Body. They are absolutely one with Him. He is their Life. He is the Vine and they are the branches. They are one in Him just as He is One in the Father. They follow Him wherever He goes.

To be continued.