Chapter 15—When the Church Awakes
[
Appeared in Notebook Leaflets, Christian Experience, No. 16.
]
Prayer is needed in the home life, in the church life, in the mis-
sionary life. The efficiency of earnest prayer is but feebly understood.
Were the church faithful in prayer, she would not be found remiss in
so many things; for faithfulness in calling upon God will bring rich
returns.
When the church awakes to the sense of her holy calling, many
more fervent and effective prayers will ascend to heaven for the Holy
Spirit to point out the work and duty of God’s people regarding the
salvation of souls. We have a standing promise that God will draw
near to every seeking soul.
The church needs to be begotten again unto a lively hope “by the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (
1 Peter 1:3, 4
). When the church
awakes to a sense of what must be done in our world, the members
will have travail of soul for those who know not God and who in their
spiritual ignorance cannot understand the truth for this time. Self-
denial, self-sacrifice, is to be woven into all our experience. We are
to pray and watch unto prayer, that there may be no inconsistency in
our lives. We must not fail to show others that we understand that
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watching unto prayer means living our prayers before God, that He
may answer them.
The church will not retrograde while the members seek help from
the throne of grace, that they may not fail to cooperate in the great
work of saving the souls that are on the brink of ruin. The members of
a church that is an active, working church, will have a realization that
they are wearing Christ’s yoke, and drawing with Him.
The heavenly universe is waiting for consecrated channels, through
which God can communicate with His people, and through them with
the world. God will work through a consecrated, self-denying church,
and He will reveal His Spirit in a visible and glorious manner, espe-
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