effect and sent souls by the millions trooping into hell . This generation of saints are responsible for this generation of sinners . Let us put self on the Cross , and Christ on the throne of our being .
Neglect of Bible
We have not duly studied and honoured the Word of God . We have given a greater prominence to man ' s writings , man ' s opinions , man ' s systems in our studies than to the Word of God ( Isa 8:20 ; 1 Thess 2:13 ). We have drunk more out of human cisterns than divine . We have held more communion with man than with God . Hence the mould and fashion of our spirits , our lives , our words have been derived more from man than from God . We must study the Bible more . We must steep our souls in it . We must not only lay it up within us , but transfuse it through the whole texture of the soul .
Prayerlessness
We have not been men of prayer . The spirit of prayer has slumbered among us . The closet has been too little frequented and delighted in . We have allowed business , study or active labour to interfere with our closet-hours . Sleep , company , idle visiting , foolish talking and jesting , idle reading , unprofitable occupations engross time that should be redeemed , for prayer and soulwinning . Let ' s answer these questions -
Why is there so little anxiety to get time to pray ?
Why is there so little forethought in the laying out of time and employment so as to secure a large portion of each day for prayer ?
Why is there so much speaking , yet so little prayer ?
Why is there so much running to and fro to meetings , conventions , fellowship and yet so little time for prayer ?
Why so many meetings with our fellowmen and so few meetings with God ?
Why so little being alone with God , so little thirsting of the soul for the calm , sweet hours of unbroken solitude , when God and His child hold close fellowship together as if they could never part ?
In one single , quiet hour of prayer , a believer will often make more progress than in years of ' meetings ' and ' gatherings .' It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air is purest . So with the soul . Our life has not been a laying-in-wait for the voice of God , “ Speak , Lord ; for Thy servant heareth ” - has not been the attitude of our souls , the guiding principle of our lives ( 1 Sam 3:9,10 ). Hence our example has been powerless , our labours unsuccessful , our sermons so meagre , our whole ministry so fruitless and feeble .
No Christlikeness
We have had little of the mind of Christ . We have come far short of the example of the apostles , much more of the example of Christ . We are far behind the servants , farther behind the Master . We have had little of the grace , compassion , the meekness , the lowliness , the love of God ' s eternal Son . His weeping over Jerusalem is a feeling in which we have but little heartfelt sympathy . His “ seeking of the lost ” is little imitated ( Mt 23:37 ; Lk 19:10 ; Mt 20:28 ; Lk 19:28,41- 44 ; 5:27 ).
His unwearing teaching of the multitudes - we shrink from , as too much for flesh and blood . His days of fasting , His nights of watchfulness , and prayer - are not fully appropriated as modes for us to copy . His counting not His life dear unto Him that He might glorify the Father and finish the work given Him to do , is but little remembered by us as the principle on which we are to act . The under-shepherd is to be what the Chief Shepherd was . We must not seek rest or ease in a world where He whom we love sought none .
' Lord , forgive us !'
We have thus grieved the Spirit of God by our inconsistent walk , by our want of circumspection , by our worldly - mindedness , by our unholiness , by our prayerlessness , by our unfaithfulness , our want of solemnity , by a life and conversation so little in conformity with the character of a disciple or the office of an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ ( 2 Cor 5:17- 20 ).
“ O Lord , we have sinned and have committed iniquity , and have done wickedly , and have rebelled ... O Lord , hear , O Lord , forgive !” ( Dan 9:5,19 ).
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