Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jul 14, 2006 19:32:07 GMT -5
“Woe to the generation of sons who find their censers empty of the rich incense of prayer, whose fathers have been too busy or too unbelieving to pray, and perils inexpressible and consequences untold are their unhappy heritage. Fortunate are they whose fathers and mothers have left them a wealthy patrimony of prayer.”
- E.M. Bounds
Enough with patronizing prayer.
Away with all the smarmy little ‘gift-books’ full of insipid ‘inspirationalism.’
Lord, help us.
If a fraction of the droves of people who attended mega churches prayed as ardently as they “amen-ed!” I think we’d see revival begin to break out.
The fruit of the Spirit hasn’t been able to grow on these dried branches because the roots are so dead.
Love? Not with the gall of resentment and pride that’s fostered in the servant leadership expressed through false humility.
Joy? Not with Playstation and X-box infesting youth groups like a plague of electronic vermin.
Peace? Not with caffeine induced second services.
Patience? Not with trying to force the Gospel into the suffocating box of business principles.
Gentleness? Not with the modernistic philosophies of masculinity and femininity.
Goodness? Not with coarse jesting, rude clothing and the excusing, even promoting the myth of ‘carnal Christianity.’
Faith? Not with the selfish, misappropriating, workless teachings and impressively hermeneutic light and sound shows to evoke happiness.
Meekness? Not with your best life now.
Self control? Not with the permissive approach towards the pervasive ‘emo’ attitude.
That all sounds like a proverbial rain cloud on our parade.
But I can’t celebrate in the middle of millions perishing eternally.
I can’t be gleeful at the sight of a Bride in a filth spattered gown.
I just can’t.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1 Peter 4:18
Oh, yes, my joy is in the Lord! I can jump and dance and shout in praise and thanks for salvation! I can sing and rejoice at His majesty and glory!
But friends, how long can we apathetically shrug off our prayerlessness and money grubbing?
When will we expunge our spiritual pride and endeavor to become spiritually poor?
Some may say, It will all turn out all right in the end.
Indeed.
But what part will have you or I played in that end?
So many are content to let the next generation take care of it – that is the burden resting on the spiritual shoulders of my generation, from the one before.
So, let’s get some calluses on our precious little egos.
In the words of Samuel L. Brengle, let us make our “souls sweat.”
Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer
A Hymn By Love M. Willis
Father, hear the prayer we offer:
Nor for ease that prayer shall be,
But for strength, that we may ever
Live our lives courageously.
Not forever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be,
But the steep and rugged pathway
May we tread rejoicingly.
Not forever by still waters
Would we idly, quiet stay;
But would smite the living fountains
From the rocks along our way.
Be our strength in hours of weakness,
In our wanderings be our Guide;
Through endeavor, failure, danger,
Father, be Thou at our side.
Let our path be bright or dreary,
Storm or sunshine be our share;
May our souls in hope unweary
Make Thy work our ceaseless prayer.
- E.M. Bounds
Enough with patronizing prayer.
Away with all the smarmy little ‘gift-books’ full of insipid ‘inspirationalism.’
Lord, help us.
If a fraction of the droves of people who attended mega churches prayed as ardently as they “amen-ed!” I think we’d see revival begin to break out.
The fruit of the Spirit hasn’t been able to grow on these dried branches because the roots are so dead.
Love? Not with the gall of resentment and pride that’s fostered in the servant leadership expressed through false humility.
Joy? Not with Playstation and X-box infesting youth groups like a plague of electronic vermin.
Peace? Not with caffeine induced second services.
Patience? Not with trying to force the Gospel into the suffocating box of business principles.
Gentleness? Not with the modernistic philosophies of masculinity and femininity.
Goodness? Not with coarse jesting, rude clothing and the excusing, even promoting the myth of ‘carnal Christianity.’
Faith? Not with the selfish, misappropriating, workless teachings and impressively hermeneutic light and sound shows to evoke happiness.
Meekness? Not with your best life now.
Self control? Not with the permissive approach towards the pervasive ‘emo’ attitude.
That all sounds like a proverbial rain cloud on our parade.
But I can’t celebrate in the middle of millions perishing eternally.
I can’t be gleeful at the sight of a Bride in a filth spattered gown.
I just can’t.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1 Peter 4:18
Oh, yes, my joy is in the Lord! I can jump and dance and shout in praise and thanks for salvation! I can sing and rejoice at His majesty and glory!
But friends, how long can we apathetically shrug off our prayerlessness and money grubbing?
When will we expunge our spiritual pride and endeavor to become spiritually poor?
Some may say, It will all turn out all right in the end.
Indeed.
But what part will have you or I played in that end?
So many are content to let the next generation take care of it – that is the burden resting on the spiritual shoulders of my generation, from the one before.
So, let’s get some calluses on our precious little egos.
In the words of Samuel L. Brengle, let us make our “souls sweat.”
Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer
A Hymn By Love M. Willis
Father, hear the prayer we offer:
Nor for ease that prayer shall be,
But for strength, that we may ever
Live our lives courageously.
Not forever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be,
But the steep and rugged pathway
May we tread rejoicingly.
Not forever by still waters
Would we idly, quiet stay;
But would smite the living fountains
From the rocks along our way.
Be our strength in hours of weakness,
In our wanderings be our Guide;
Through endeavor, failure, danger,
Father, be Thou at our side.
Let our path be bright or dreary,
Storm or sunshine be our share;
May our souls in hope unweary
Make Thy work our ceaseless prayer.