Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #9

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

A Shower Of Grace Is Needed

(Ephesians 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”  (KJV)

There are times when every Christian has felt that his labor has been in vain, especially when there is no outward response to his appeals, and no obvious fruit from his efforts. A shower of grace is needed.

The sound of the abundance of rain precedes a great down-pouring of grace. Our spiritual ears need to hear it, our eyes need to behold “Him who is invisible” to the natural eye, as Moses of old. We need to see Him in the events of our daily lives. Our nostrils need to smell the freshness of the coming rain, the blessing of grace. Our feelings need to be touched by something not of ourselves, but from a greater, higher source. Our tastebuds need to be aroused by the goodness of the Lord, “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

God controls the rain, but there are sometimes clouds but no rain. This means that we have the means of grace, but no grace sent by the means. The clouds are ordained to bring rain, but now commanded not to do so. The Spirit has been grieved and quenched, repentance is needed. If we will turn from our sins, God will bless us, as He desires to do.

Pastor Ed Bowen

Conclusion

Maybe you need a refreshing… a spiritual renewal? God will send the “RAIN” in His time. My experience has taught me that He was always right ON TIME!

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Hendrickson presents two classic works on the Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer, together in one volume for the first time. A superb addition to the best-selling Hendrickson Christian Classics series, Life in the Spirit combines Tozer’s How to Be Filled with the Spirit and The Counselor: Straight Talk About the Holy Spirit from a Twentieth Century Prophet.
In Tozer’s own words, How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit “was made available to the Christian public with the prayer that it may lead thirsty believers to the fountain of living waters.” Since its publication, hundreds of thousands of copies of this practical yet deeply devotional guide have been sold. How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit will refresh and open the reader to the filling of the Holy Spirit.
In The Counselor, Tozer speaks to the current conflict and confusion about the Holy Spirit from a balanced, biblical perspective-not academic, but practical. Tozer promises that the Holy Spirit “is willing-yes, willing-to do for us all that Jesus would do if He were here on earth.” The chapters of this book were originally preached as sermons at Southside Alliance Church in Chicago. Whether spoken or written, Tozer’s words were designed to “promote personal heart religion” among God’s people.

Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #3

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

A PLACE ON EARTH THAT GLADDENS

(John 20:19-20) “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”  (KJV)

“The disciples in that upper room were glad when they saw the Lord. Their fears were calmed! There is a look that has gladdened the hearts of all of His children down through the ages… when they SEE the Lord in all of their circumstances. There is also a Book that gladdens the hearts of His children… we call it The Bible. There is also a place that gladdens… it is the place where the Lord has promised to assemble with His church as they meet in His name. This meeting turns us from the sad world around us… a place of moral decay… a place bold indecency… a place of mental instability.

Many blessings are ours and many needs are met when we do not neglect this assembly. The Apostle, Thomas, was absent on this occasion and missed seeing the Lord. Unbelief was the result.

When we forsake the assembly, we fail to enrich ourselves with His presence for He has promised to be “in the midst” of His church when they meet… even if they number only two or three. We will miss the encouragement of His people too. God’s people encourage and edify one another when they meet. It is like a family reunion on each Lord’s Day. No doubt, every Christian can testify of being encouraged by brothers and sisters in Christ at just the right time when they came together in the assembly. The message from God’s servant, the lifting of our voices in songs of praise and the warm greetings of God’s wonderful people give us wonderful peace and joy.

Our daily communion in our closets of prayer is all-important. We would be weakened greatly if we neglected it, but the assembly gives us an opportunity to bless the lives of others who need it. To be in fellowship with the Lord and His people brings the joy of fulfillment. It has been to me, and to many others, a classroom of learning of God’s will and ways. Let us not forsake this assembly “as the manner of some is,”! There seems, however, to be “many” today who are “forsaking” it.”

Pastor Ed Bowen

Conclusion

Indeed, every pastor can identify with this devotional post. The opportunity to meet in the house of God certainly GLADDENSthe heart like nothing else! May God bless you today as you venture into the fellowship of the Saints!

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Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #7

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

An Independent Spirit

(Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  (KJV)

Let us beware of the pitfall of an independent spirit… doing only what is beneficial to oneself.

Lot fell victim to this attitude and lost a great deal by doing so. He lost his testimony for the Lord, lost his family to the world, and he lost the spiritual influence of his life. There is deception involved… for often we hold tightly to things we believe to be beneficial to us which are really harmful.

The choices we make are to be put before the Lord for His approval and clear direction. In all our ways, we are to acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. If we selfishly choose according to our carnal nature, then we will often choose things which do not honor God and do not bring us blessing.

It is a solemn thing to realize that our choices affect not only ourselves but others also… even generations to come. Lot’s choice to move into Sodom affected his entire family and their eternal destiny. He was saved but they were lost.

Pastor Ed Bowen

Conclusion

Pastor Bowen is absolutely correct in his post. We need to be careful about our decisions and their consequences. We must set our motives, desires and ambition before God on a daily basis allowing God’s Holy Spirit to guide us!

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By A.W. Tozer / Regal

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