FELLOW-WORKERS in the gospel, shall we not do wisely to inquire diligently of our hearts, whether the same power accompany our testimony that once did?
There is a danger of falling into the spirit of routine, of engaging oneself in God’s service because it is one’s habit. Many are going on as they have gone for years past, but is this progress merely the effect of the impetus of the first start, or is it daily, hourly, in the energy of God’s Spirit? There is unquestionably a greater outward ease in testifying for God to be seen in many, than there was a few years ago; but is there more power upon the hearts of the hearers than there used to be? Let us not mistake the ease which follows practice for Divine power. A flow of words is not unction, ability to arrest hearers is not necessarily of God. There may be a greater knowledge of God’s word―is this surprising after men have read it for years―but is there greater strength in wielding the sword? Brethren, in one word, is there more dependence upon God, more prayer, more communion, than there was at first? Some, looking at their lack of power, excuse themselves by saying, times are changed, men’s hearts are now used to the gospel; the tale is grown old to them; but would it not be wiser to inquire, Have we changed? Are we less upon our knees? Have we less care for the salvation of souls? Do we burn less for God’s glory? Do we draw less from God’s strength than we did in the early days of our conscious weakness?
Scripture affords us abundant illustrations, in the life stories of its strong men, of the working of decay.
Let us place the candle of the word before our own souls! Take Israel at Ai as an example; they were then in their proper position and attitude, being in Canaan, and face to face with God’s foes; yet they were, nevertheless, outside the shining of God’s light, for evil was among them, and they knew it not. So we may be formally in God’s service, yet morally at a distance from Him. Israel, flushed with previous victory, went to the battle, but in the confidence of past success, and not in present dependence upon God. So our wretched flesh is puffed up by the very victories God granted us, and we use this strength to exalt ourselves, and trust in our own resources, and not alone in Him, ―we measure ourselves by ourselves in our folly.
To be in this state of soul, is to be out of communion with God. Neither did this state come about in a moment. Slowly the believer grew out of communion, yet continued to present the appearance of strength before others; gradually he forsook his wonted dependence upon Gods yet shrunk not from his usual course of service. He carried the sword, wielded formerly by God’s strength, but moist not his inability to handle it. He lived on his old energy. Went forward in the impetus of past devotedness. He did not question his real state, but, like Sampson shorn of his hair―emblem of his dependence upon God―met his enemies, saying, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.” (Judges 16:2020And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. (Judges 16:20).)
Brothers, is it not so oftentimes with us? Who has not visited the dying, or encountered the infidel, or preached to the unconverted, and felt in his soul the bitterness of defeat? Has God changed? Or have we forgotten to plead with Him? If we are in communion with God we are depending upon Him, and this leads to prayer, and hence arises victory.
Can we see into our own hearts by the light of God’s word? Do we know our real condition, or is it said of us in the heavens, “Gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not”? (Hosea 7:99Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. (Hosea 7:9).)