Clean Cleave
“Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” Acts 11:23-24 KJV
The simple take from the exhortation of Barnabas to the church at Antioch is that God in the race of life is the essence of grace. Grace provides the glue that binds man with God. Unfortunately, there is no option B for cleaving unto the Lord. Anyone who fails to cleave leaves; there is no such thing as lean c-leave (i.e., c-leave is simply clean c-leave; otherwise, what is left is leave). And only in every believer’s prayer room (not in the courtyard of backsliders and unbelievers), grace is founded and fortified. For example, when Barnabas saw the evidence of the grace of God among the brethren at Antioch, he encouraged the fortification of such grace through consistent prayer fellowship. And like St. John Chrysostom (349-407) once wrote “Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings. The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire. It has bridled the rage of lions, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, rescued cities from destruction, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt”. Anyone who cleaves unto the Lord doesn’t leave with empty hands; clean cleave inspires clear consecration with excellent distinction.
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