Acts 16:18  "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

Acts 19:13  "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."

Proverbs 18:24  "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

Once upon a time there were three billy goats called Gruff. In the winter they lived in a barn in the valley, but when spring came they longed to travel up to the mountains to eat the lush, sweet grass.
On their way to the mountains the three Billy Goats Gruff had to cross a rushing river. But there was only one bridge across it, made of wooden planks. Underneath the bridge there lived a terrible, ugly, one-eyed troll.
Nobody was allowed to cross the bridge without the troll’s permission - and nobody ever got permission. He always ate them up.
The smallest Billy Goat Gruff was first to reach the bridge. Trippity-trop, trippity-trop went his little hooves as he trotted over the wooden planks. Ting-tang, ting-tang went the little bell round his neck.
"Who’s that trotting over my bridge?" growled the troll from under the planks.
"Billy Goat Gruff," squeaked the smallest goat in his little voice. "I’m only going up to the mountain to eat the sweet spring grass."
"Oh no, you’re not!" said the troll. "I’m going to eat you for breakfast!"
"Oh no, please Mr Troll," pleaded the goat. "I’m only the smallest Billy Goat Gruff. I’m much too tiny for you to eat, and I wouldn’t taste very good. Why don’t you wait for my brother, the second Billy Goat Gruff? He’s much bigger than me and would be much more tasty."
The troll did not want to waste his time on a little goat if there was a bigger and better one to eat. "All right, you can cross my bridge," he grunted. "Go and get fatter on the mountain and I’ll eat you on your way back!"
So the smallest Billy Goat Gruff skipped across to the other side.

We've all heard the story of the "The Three Billy Goats Gruff". The youngest billy goat started across the bridge to go up the mountain to eat the sweet grass when the ugly, one-eyed troll came out from under the bridge and threatened to eat him. He told the troll that he had an older brother coming along behind him who was bigger and more tasty than he was. So the troll decides to wait on the older brother. And so when the next billy goat comes he promises yet another older brother. But when the third brother comes along he is so big he knocks the troll off the bridge and kills him.

As I was reading this story to my grandchildren the other night, I couldn't help but think that we have an older brother who crosses every bridge with us. He is right behind us every step we take. Every time the ugly, one-eyed troll threatens to eat us, all we have to do is point him to our older brother. I thought of all the times I've tried to take on the troll single handed. And then I remembered all the times I was nearly eaten! When all I had to do was say, "Wait, my brother is right behind me and He is much bigger than I am!" That will give the troll pause every time! You see, Satan trembles at the name of Jesus!

So the next time you are crossing a bridge and you are facing opposition from the devil just stop and tell him your older brother is right behind you. Remind him that your older brother is much bigger than you are. Just don't forget to take Him with you when you cross the bridge!

Lydia Baxter wrote the song below (the music to which is now playing if you have your sound turned up) just four years before she died in 1874. She had been a bed-ridden invalid most of her life and had told her friends that when the tempter tried to make her blue or despondent she would just mention the name of Jesus and he couldn't get through to her anymore. What a wonderful testimony! She wrote many songs of praise including "Go Work In My Vineyard" and "One By One We Cross The River". Miss Baxter died as a result of a train accident. When they found her on the train, she had a copy of Sacred Songs and Solos in her hand opened to her favorite song, "There Is A Gate." The words to her beautiful hymns still inspire me today!

MAY YOU ALWAYS KEEP
THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU!

TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU

Verse I

Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you;
Take it, then, where'er you go.

Take the Name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy Name in prayer.

O the precious Name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

At the Name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heaven we'll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.

Chorus:
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.

By: Lydia Baxter 1809 – 1874

LOVE, MEME

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