These Words May Help Transform A Formal Ritualistic Religion Into A Dynamic Living Vibrant Faith
We have all had words, or we each need words, which are able to transform a formal ritualistic religion into a dynamic living vibrant faith.
This season of waiting is always an essential qualification for successful service. God would have His children realize the utter inadequacy of all human means to accomplish His gigantic purposes, that thus the praise and glory might be afterwards ascribed exclusively to Him. The disciples were given ten days to review the field of battle, to recognize the difficulties that bristled round on every side, to measure the adversaries’ strength, and to understand their own helplessness and weakness; thus were they driven to their knees in earnest, anxious prayer. Then came the answer. The promise was fulfilled, and the power stored up in the almighty Saviour was brought down to His disciples in the person of the Holy Spirit.
The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Our Master expects us to accomplish results, even if they bring opposition and conflict. Anything is better than compromise, apathy, and paralysis. God give to us an intense cry for the old-time power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit!
It is not the bee’s touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on divine truth, that will prove the choicest, strongest Christian.
The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.
The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.
The way to stimulate and provoke others unto good works is to strive to outrun them in the race. The way to rebuke the cold and indifferent is to be always full of zeal and ‘abounding in the work of the Lord’ yourself. Men will be much more ready to answer a call to come up to your level, than a command to advance beyond you.
Closet communion needs time for the revelation of God’s presence. It is vain to say, ‘I have too much work to do to find time.’ You must find time or forfeit blessing. God knows how to save for you the time you sacredly keep for communion with Him.
Today comes but once, and comes never to return. We hope it will come again tomorrow; but it does not. It is gone forever, with its inexhaustible possibilities, privileges and responsibilities.
Elijah on Carmel did not only pray; he kept his eyes open to see the rising cloud.
With some men it would seem, if they could control God’s operations and manipulate His actions they might tolerate a revival; but to allow God a free hand, fills them with righteous indignation and horror. If only God would consent to become an ‘ecclesiastic’ and respect their dignity and decorum and beautiful order of service and ways of running the Church, they might condescend to have a revival.
To arouse one man or woman to the tremendous power of prayer for others, is worth more than the combined activity of a score of average Christians.
I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach. A minister’s highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray.
Sandy Shaw
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