National Preacher Habakkuk 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear! even cry out to you of violence, and you will not save! The question to be answered is this: How long will God suffer His people to pray, and still neglect to hear? Answer — 1. Till they see the plague of their own hearts — till each one sees his own. individual iniquities, and lies in the dust before God. 2. Till the Church feels that she stands in the gap between God and a sin destroyed world. 3. Till they are willing to do whatever of duty He requires, in addition to praying. 4. Till they move the stumbling-blocks out of the way of a revival of His work. 5. If God sees in His people any disposition to withhold from Him the glory of the work He does. We see from this subject — (1) Why so many prayers seem to be offered in vain. (2) We see some of the causes of spiritual declension in the Church. (3) The subject shows how we should set about raising the Church from her low estate. (4) We see the duty of every Christian to search well his own heart. The hindrances to revivals are the sins of individuals. Each Christian, therefore, must search and purify himself. (5) How fearful is the Church's responsibility; and how great should be her watchfulness, lest by her apathy, her selfishness, or her unbelief, she hinder the work of the Lord. (National Preacher.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! |
    |