Beautiful Motion but No Progress
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22, 23).
Many people are working and working, as Rowland Hill said, like children on a rocking horse—it is a beautiful motion, but there is no progress. Those who are working for salvation are like men on a treadmill, going around and around, toiling and toiling, but nothing comes of it. There is no progress. There never can be until you have the motive power within, till the breath of life comes from God, which alone can give you power to work for others.
A great many think that we need new measures, new churches, new organs, new choirs, and a host of other things new. That is not what the church of God needs. It is the old power that the apostles had that men need today.
At a prayer meeting in Chicago years ago, D. L. Moody tells how one old pastor prayed earnestly that the Lord would put new ministers in the pulpits. “Oh, Lord,” he cried, “put new ministers in every pulpit.”
The next Monday Mr. Moody relates how he heard three or four folk stand up in a testimony meeting to say, “We had a new minister last Sunday—the same old pastor, but he had a new power.” Who can measure what benefit would come upon us if the prayer would more often be heard, “Lord, give us new ministers in every pulpit.”
Many people are working and working, as Rowland Hill said, like children on a rocking horse—it is a beautiful motion, but there is no progress. Those who are working for salvation are like men on a treadmill, going around and around, toiling and toiling, but nothing comes of it. There is no progress. There never can be until you have the motive power within, till the breath of life comes from God, which alone can give you power to work for others.
A great many think that we need new measures, new churches, new organs, new choirs, and a host of other things new. That is not what the church of God needs. It is the old power that the apostles had that men need today.
At a prayer meeting in Chicago years ago, D. L. Moody tells how one old pastor prayed earnestly that the Lord would put new ministers in the pulpits. “Oh, Lord,” he cried, “put new ministers in every pulpit.”
The next Monday Mr. Moody relates how he heard three or four folk stand up in a testimony meeting to say, “We had a new minister last Sunday—the same old pastor, but he had a new power.” Who can measure what benefit would come upon us if the prayer would more often be heard, “Lord, give us new ministers in every pulpit.”