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How Successful Are Modern Revivals?
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a pernicious habit. His powers belong to Christ. His property is the
Lord’s. How could he squander this entrusted capital?
Professed Christians yearly expend an immense sum on per-
nicious indulgences. God is robbed in tithes and offerings, while
they consume on the altar of destroying lust more than they give
to relieve the poor or support the gospel. If all who profess Christ
were truly sanctified, their means, instead of being spent for needless
and hurtful indulgences, would be turned into the Lord’s treasury.
Christians would set an example of temperance and self-sacrifice.
Then they would be the light of the world.
“The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (
1
John 2:16
) control the masses. But Christ’s followers have a holier
calling. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean.” To those who comply with
the conditions, God’s promise is, “I will receive you, and will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:17, 18
.
Every step of faith and obedience brings the soul into closer
connection with the Light of the World. The bright beams of the Sun
of Righteousness shine upon the servants of God, and they are to
reflect His rays. The stars tell us that there is a light in heaven with
whose glory they are made bright; so Christians make it manifest
that there is a God on the throne whose character is worthy of praise
and imitation. The holiness of His character will be manifest in His
witnesses.
Through the merits of Christ we have access to the throne of
Infinite Power. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
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Jesus says: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto
your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” “If ye shall ask anything in my
name, I will do it.” “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be
full.”
Romans 8:32
;
Luke 11:13
;
John 14:14
;
16:24
.
It is the privilege of everyone so to live that God will approve
and bless him. It is not the will of our heavenly Father that we should
be ever under condemnation and darkness. There is no evidence of
true humility in going with the head bowed down and the heart filled