Prayerless

“P.T. Forsyth once said, ‘The worst sin is prayerlessness.’ Does this statement surprise us? We usually think of murder and adultery as among the worst offenses against God and humanity. But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency–independence from the rule of God. When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength, we are saying with our actions, if not with our words that we do not need Him. How much of our service is actually a “going it alone”?
The opposite of such independence is prayer in which we acknowledge our need of God’s guidance and empowerment. In this respect we have seen the example by Jesus in the Gospels. He lived and served in complete dependence on His Father. Contrary to popular views, such dependence does not limit or repress human personality. We are never so fully personal–free to become our true selves–as when we are living in complete dependence on God.”

-The Tyranny of The Urgent, Charles E. Hummel; IVP Books

My wife showed me this quote and I had to share it. Thanks honey!

Supplications in Walking With God

Owen saw that there were only two things worthy of our supplications toward God in being His enabling us to walk with Him. He is God and we are to follow Him. His sovereignty dictates our circumstance. Anything we need to walk with Him will fall into two categories. “God give me strength to follow You and the peace in You to suffer well in trials.” Any other requests made to change circumstances devoid of seeking God’s will and His glory will only beget disappointment and discontent.

Were any of us asked seriously, what it is that troubles us, we must refer it to one of these heads: —either we want strength or power, vigour and life, in our obedience, in our walking with God; or we want peace, comfort, and consolation therein. Whatever it is that may befall a believer that doth not belong to one of these two heads, doth not deserve to be mentioned in the days of our complaints.

- John Owen, from the Mortification of Sin in Believers, chapter 4

Fuller on Preaching

Though expounding the Scriptures be an important part of the public work of a minister, yet it is not the whole of it. There is a great variety of subjects, both in doctrinal and practical religion, which require to be illustrated, established, and improved; which cannot be done in an exposition. Discourses of this kind are properly called sermons.

Unless the subject-matter of your preaching be truly evangelical, you had better be any thing than a minister. When the apostle speaks of a necessity being laid upon him to preach the gospel, he might mean that he was not at liberty to relinquish his work in favour of ease, or honour, or any other worldly object; but he was not bound to preach merely, but to preach that doctrine which had been delivered unto him. The same may be said of us; woe unto us if we preach not the gospel!

It may seem to be a very easy thing, with the Bible in our hands, to learn the truth, clear of all impure mixtures, and to make it the subject of our ministry. But it is not so. We talk much of thinking and judging for ourselves; but who can justly pretend to be free from the influences which surround him, especially in early life! We are insensibly, and almost irresistibly, assimilated by the books we read, and the company with which we associate ; and the principles current in our age and connexions will ordinarily influence our minds. Nor is the danger solely from without: we are “slow of heart” to believe in a doctrine so holy and divine, and prone to deviate at everypoint. If, therefore, we were wholly to think for ourselves, that were no security for our keeping to the mind of Christ.  

I mention these things, not to deter you from either reading or thinking for yourself; but rather to inculcate the necessity of prayer for Divine guidance, and a close adherence to the Scriptures. Though we must think for ourselves, we must not depend upon ourselves, but, as little children, learn at the feet of our Saviour.

-The Works of Andrew Fuller, Banner of Truth

I found encouragement and conviction when reading this for the first time. I am encouraged with the exhortation to continue in the evangelical motive or else hold my tongue. I found conviction in my occasional over-zealous appreciation for the books that I use to help me in my study and pursuit of the Truth. This blog is dedicated mainly to the uncovering and discovering of the great teaching and preaching found in Puritan and Puritan influenced writings, of which there is a tremendous wealth. But the warning should be, needs be, used to be our caution in approaching these great books, that they are not to be used firstly nor even secondly in our learning, but to be used only thirdly, and that only after prayer and the reading of the Word of God.