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