Epistle 139
True prayer and understanding come from dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus, leading to a life free from conflict and earthly-mindedness.
George Fox preaches about the importance of praying in the spirit and with understanding, emphasizing the significance of sighs and groans that cannot be uttered, guided by the Holy Spirit. He contrasts this with the Pharisees' long prayers filled with wrath, doubting, and lack of holiness. Fox highlights the necessity of owning the light that comes from Jesus to access the truth, the Father, and the Son, leading believers out of earthly distractions and into heavenly-mindedness.
Text
Friends,--Know the praying in the spirit, and with the understanding [1 Cor 14:15]; then ye will come to know the sighs and groans that cannot be uttered [Rom 8:26]. For such as have not the spirit that gave forth the scriptures to guide them, are as the Pharisees were, in the long prayers, and in the wrath, and in the doubting, and do not lift up holy hands [1 Tim 2:8]. This makes a difference between praying in the spirit, and the Pharisees' long prayers, that devoured widows' houses [Luke 20:47].
[And none owns the light as it is Jesus, but he that owns the light that Christ lighteth him withal [John 1:9]. And none owns the truth, but who <134> owns the light that cometh from Christ, the truth. And none cometh to the Father, but such who owns the light that cometh from Christ, which leads to him. Nor none owns the son, except he owns the light that cometh from him.
For all dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus, it leads out of wars, leads out of strife, leads out of the occasion of wars, and leads out of the earth up to God, out of earthly-mindedness to heavenly-mindedness, and bringeth your minds to be in heaven.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- Praying in the Spirit
- Ownership of the Light
- Consequences of dwelling in the light
- Leaving wars and strife behind
- Escaping earthly-mindedness for heavenly-mindedness
Key Quotes
“And none owns the light as it is Jesus, but he that owns the light that Christ lighteth him withal [John 1:9].” — George Fox
“For all dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus, it leads out of wars, leads out of strife, leads out of the occasion of wars, and leads out of the earth up to God, out of earthly-mindedness to heavenly-mindedness, and bringeth your minds to be in heaven.” — George Fox
“And none owns the truth, but who <134> owns the light that cometh from Christ, the truth.” — George Fox
Application Points
- As you pray, seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit and submit to His truth.
- Recognize and submit to the light that comes from Jesus, which leads to a deeper understanding of God and His ways.
- Dwelling in the light that comes from Jesus will lead to a life free from wars, strife, and earthly-mindedness.