Without Blemish

Without Blemish

FW Message:

Sweet subject!

(The following is an excerpt from the diary of James Smith)

"Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them!" Hebrews 7:25

April 19, 1857.
I have today been preaching on the intercession of Jesus. Sweet subject! Our great High Priest appears in the presence of God--for us! He pleads our cause, and will carry it against all our foes. He sends the Comforter--to teach, sanctify, and console us. He employs Providence--to guide, guard, and provide for us. He will never rest until He introduces us to His Father, "as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish--but holy and without fault!"

Addition Dr. Morris:

            Hearing this read to me (I am totally blind), I think of my great grandfather, word is that he was a great preacher, elder P.T Lucas, Wilkson County, NC. He was born in 1857, the year in which this preacher sermon was preached.

            Just think, a boy during the Civil War, too young to go to the war but surely knew all about it. The Lucas family owned a large part of Wilkson County, NC. I understand that my grandmother, one of his 12 children (mother of my father), never let anyone forget that she was a Lucas, daughter of a great preacher.

            Even though P.T Lucas was a prominent farmer-land owner, his great passion was Christ. Even me, born on a dirt road before power or phone lines, or paved roads, can not believe what it was like for this man to leave a wife and children at home, travel by horse and buggy...just paths through woodlands to establish churches and preach throughout Eastern North Carolina. I met one old preacher who remembered him (he died in 1906), staying at his home. It was Reverend E.A Killtte's job to take care of my great grandfather's horse. He said it was the finest horse he had ever seen.

            Do you think my seminary professor, PhD, son, although he spent many years on the mission field, could understand early ministry? Certainly not my two grandsons, both studying for PhD's, never knowing life without electricity, telephones.

            From all the people in the world, God chose the Jewish nation..what a history of these stiff necked people. But, of all the world, no nation or people as blessed as Americans. Today, reliable report, 89% of all churches, slowly dying...mostly white hair. The other 11%, 10% membership increase just from transfers of membership, only 1% of all churches have a growing membership because of evangelism-baptisms.

"Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget!" (Kipling).