In this sermon, Basilia Schlink discusses the importance of repentance and weeping over one's sins in order to draw down the grace of God. She shares a personal encounter with a leader of a foreign ministry who struggled with a deep desire to be important, even in his work for the Lord. Despite recognizing his sin, he did not repent, which saddened Schlink as she knew he was heading towards God's judgment. She contrasts this with the example of Sister Claudia, who constantly wept over her sins and sought forgiveness from Jesus. Through her repentance and tears, Claudia experienced the transforming power of God's grace in her life.

God lives and works today. But why do so few people experience his reality? The grace of God can only flow into our lives under one condition. However, it's an easy condition within everyone's reach, as we'll hear in today's meditation by Basilia Schlink called How to Draw Down the Grace of God. Some time ago I had a talk with the leader of a large foreign ministry. He was well known and respected, loved by everyone. But he confessed to me that his greatest problem was his tremendous desire to be important. Even in all of his work for the Lord Jesus, deep down this need to be important was the driving motive. However, what upset me most about this person was that although he recognized and confessed his sin, he nevertheless did not repent. Instead of turning over a new leaf, he just continued working and living as he had always done. It was a great sorrow for me, because I knew that the man was heading straight towards the judgment of God. He did not weep over his sins. However, only when we are truly sorry for our sins can the grace of God come down into our lives. Sweet Lord of life, I will now strive No more to grieve you and burden Your loving heart, sorrow laden Repentant tears my Savior cheers Followed by praise and rejoicing Love and my gratitude I sing I remember our sister Claudia, whom the Lord called home at the age of 35. Her name, Claudia, meant weeping, and she was truly one who wept. Whenever she came for a talk with me, her heart, and sometimes her eyes too, would be filled with tears over what she had done, how she had hurt God. After she died, all the sisters testified, whenever the Lord had judged our sisterhood because there were things which were not pleasing to Him, it was Sister Claudia who bowed herself the most under her guilt. And in the last years before she died, she really radiated something of the nature of our Lord Jesus. How did she happen to be so filled with the Lord's grace? Sister Claudia was one who wept over her sins. Truly repentant, she stretched out her arms to Jesus, her personal Savior and Redeemer, and He rescued her from judgment. Jesus delivered her and completely transformed her. You shall be first, for this I thirst. Jesus, my dearest treasure, my joy and bliss beyond measure. An Easter picture once moved me very deeply. It portrayed Jesus' descent into hell. The picture showed many outstretched arms of people crying for deliverance, and Jesus, with the strength of His mighty arm, was pulling them out of the clutches of hell. Whom does He deliver? Whom does He set free? Whoever weeps over his sins, crying out to be delivered, that person draws down the grace of God. You've been listening to a program written by Basilia Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. If this program has been a help to you, we would be happy to send you a free leaflet by the same author. Please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.